Your kids are going to have a great time in Paris. The city is full of fun activities for children.

PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS
Paris's many parks, large and small, are designed with children in mind. Many have playgrounds with things to climb and swing on, fences and gates to keep the little ones from wandering off, and benches for parents.

Jardin des Tuileries
At the large pool in the Jardin des Tuileries they can rent little toy sailboats, and there are always plenty of pigeons to feed!

Bois de Boulogne & Jardin d'Acclimatation
Childhood reigns at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, or children's amusement park (Métro: Les Sablons, then a six-minute walk). More...

Jardin du Luxembourg
This large, very central park has an extensive playground (small admission fee) and a Marionette Theater. More...

Forum des Halles
Two interesting playgrounds in the complex of parks and gardens built on the site of Paris's old food markets (Métro: Les Halles; RER: Châtelet-Les Halles):

The Jardin des Enfants (Children's Garden) is a wonderful maze. Kids (7 to 11 years) go up craggy mountains, out of a snake's mouth sliding down the tongue, into a cage filled with tennis balls, and through tunnels and gardens.

The Jardin des Tout-Petits (Infants' Garden) is for kids from babyhood to age 7: sandbox, merry-go-round, seesaw, slide, and two topiary rhinoceroses on guard. Benches provide a rest for the weary sightseeing feet of the parents. It's free; if the gate is closed, just reach over and turn the handle.

ZOOS
Jardin des Plantes
Stop here for a look at the Ménagerie.

Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle
France's Natural History Museum has lots of kid-oriented programs.

Bois de Vincennes & Parc Zoologique de Paris
Paris's major zoo (Métro: Porte Dorée).

TOYS
Au Nain Bleu is the largest toy store in Paris
Everybody enjoys panoramic views, so if your children are toddlers or older, head for the high spots:

Eiffel Tower
Your kids may be old enough to climb to the mezzanine level, which means no waiting in line (which kids hate). Not only that, there's a carousel (merry-go-round) between the tower and the bridge over the Seine. More carousels...

Look also for the many souvenir sellers nearby, especially on the spacious Champ-de-Mars—they often have fun action toys like little kites, airplanes and rubber-band rockets to shoot into the air in the spacious park.

Across the river, the Jardin du Trocadéro has an Aquarium (Métro: Trocadéro).

Arc de Triomphe
Another fine viewpoint, and with lots of military and national history thrown in.

CIRCUS
A good schedule of circus shows throughout the year.

RIVER CRUISES
Who doesn't like boat cruises? With some of the lines, you can hop on and hop off as you like—perfect for childish attention spans... More...

MUSEUMS
The Palais de la Découverte, Avenue Franklin D Roosevelt between the Champs-Élysées and the Seine (just behind the Grand Palais, Métro: Franklin D Roosevelt or Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau) is an institute with working demonstrations in various branches of science, including astronomy, physics, biology, computers, medicine, and dentistry. There's a planetarium here as well.

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