How to Visit the Louvre With Children
The Louvre, one of the world's largest museums and a central landmark of Paris, provides a place of quiet contemplation and a time for reflection on the beauty of art. As such, it may seem a less-than-ideal place to take rambunctious little ones. If you plan to visit Paris with your tots in tow, don̵7;t skip a trip to the Louvre; instead, plan a trip with your kids in mind.
Instructions
Purchase your tickets in advance and skip a potential long wait in line. Instead, visit one of the Louvre-approved online ticket vendors and purchase your tickets well in advance of your trip. By side-stepping the line, you can decrease the frustration that comes with your child's limited attention span. As an added bonus, your kid will likely think that you are super cool and important because you get to skip the line. Review the museum rules prior to your visit. Posters featuring museum rules are posted around the museum in multiple languages. These posters also include pictorial representations of the museum's primary rules. Discuss the main rules, which apply throughout the museum, with your child in the days before your visit. These rules include: no mobile phone use, no smoking, no eating or drinking, no running, no touching and no loud discussions. If your child is going to want to take along a camera, explain to her that photography is allowed in the permanent exhibitions, but not in the special collections section. To ensure that your child doesn̵7;t get into trouble while trying to capture a moment on film, tell her to check with you before she takes any pictures. Preview the museum with books. If your child is excited about the impending trip, she will be more likely to behave herself while in the Louvre. Purchase or borrow some books about the Louvre to share with your child. Tailor your book selection to your child̵7;s distinctive interests, if possible. For example, if your child is a cat lover, buy a book with a similar theme. For example, ̶0;Cats in the Louvre,̶1; by Frederic Vitoux and Elisabeth Foucart-Walters, features images of cats depicted in this museum. Give your child an audio guide. The Louvre offers visitors pre-recorded audio guides, downloadable on the iPhone or Android from www.louvre.fr. Before venturing to the museum, put one of these tours on your phone. Pack your headphones and let your child listen to the informative tour while you walk around the museum with her. Book a private tour. If you want some professional help capturing your child̵7;s attention, spring for a family-friendly tour. Paris Muse, a Paris-based tour company, offers child-friendly tours that focus on treasure hunting. Try this tour, or a similar kid-focused option, to take some of the burden of entertaining your tot off of your shoulders.
