Getting your kids excited
about Paris.
The easiest way to get a five-year-old genuinely excited about a trip is to read them a story set where they are about to go. Here is what actually builds real anticipation, not just a countdown calendar.
A book set where they are going.
A book set in the exact city on the itinerary turns an abstract trip into something a young kid can actually picture. We wrote Rosie in Paris for exactly this: reading it with our own girls before a trip made Paris feel real to them before they ever landed.
Photos, a few words, and good timing.
Show photos of the specific things on the plan, the Eiffel Tower lawn, a carousel, a bakery, rather than a vague idea of the city. Teach a handful of simple French words, hello, please, thank you, for a small, real sense of participation. Start a few weeks out, not months: too early and the excitement fades, too late and there is no time to build it.
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What families ask us.
How do you get a young kid excited about a trip to Paris?
Read them a story set where they are about to go. A book like Rosie in Paris, set in the exact city on the itinerary, turns an abstract trip into something a young kid can actually picture before they get there.
Should you show kids photos before a Paris trip?
Yes, alongside a story. Photos of the specific things you plan to do, the Eiffel Tower lawn, a carousel, a bakery, give kids concrete things to look forward to rather than a vague idea of Paris.
Is it worth teaching young kids a few French words before Paris?
A handful of simple words, hello, please, thank you, gives a young kid a small, real sense of participation without overwhelming them before the trip.
When should you start building excitement before a trip?
A few weeks out is plenty for a young kid. Too far in advance and the excitement fades before departure; too close and there is no time to build anticipation at all.