How to occupy your kids during the Christmas school holidays?

© Le Chalet du Plaza Athénée - Boby Allin and Disneyland Paris

Every year, it’s the same story: kids are bursting with energy during the Christmas holidays, and inspiration runs out quickly to keep them busy. Here’s a round-up of the coolest activities for the end of the year: a dive into Disney's magical world, a jewelry-making workshop for the crafty ones, an unforgettable first cabaret, an enchanting musical tale, a trampoline session to let off steam, an ice-skating escapade... And for budding adventurers? Soccer camps at their favorite club and escape games await. That’s how to make these holidays in Paris unforgettable!

Nothing is more magical than Disneyland Paris to recreate the magic of Christmas! Until January 6th, Disney princesses, Minnie, Mickey, Chip and Dale, and even Winnie spread enchantment in an extraordinary atmosphere. From snow falling on Main Street to meeting the real Santa Claus, the musical show Let’s Sing Christmas!, the giant Christmas tree and its 80 smaller siblings, stores overflowing with gifts, the fabulous Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade (which took 2 years to prepare), to the technical marvel of projection games on the castle featuring the Nutcracker universe, events unfold all day in an utterly magical ambiance.

All that’s left is to dive into the most exciting attractions, depending on the mood: are you up for a thrilling ride or family adventures? At the Marvel Avengers Campus, superhero fans won’t want to miss the brand-new open-air show Doctor Strange: Mystical Mysteries, an epic adventure that takes you on a high-energy action ride.

For older ones: don’t miss the New Year’s Eve party on December 31st, running until 1 AM, with fireworks, live shows, and attractions. It’s a must-do once in a lifetime… and why not book a night on-site?

Info & reservations at disneylandparis.com, starting from €89 during the holiday season.
© Disneyland Paris

Being a jeweler is an art! In her workshop near Trocadéro, Kelly and her team welcome kids aged 8 to 16 to create artisanal jewelry and learn the secrets of its craftsmanship. Upon arrival at the workshop, the session kicks off with a quick introduction to the tools used. Then, they get to create their own jewelry piece: earrings, a necklace, or a bracelet from five different collections, using natural stones or crystal beads. Honestly: so beautiful.

Outcome: your child leaves with an impressive personalized piece of jewelry, loads of new knowledge, and the memory of a lovely creative moment. Warning: they might not stop talking about it for a while!

Jewelry creation workshop. 12-14 rue Gustave Courbet, Paris 16th. 1h30, €60 per person. Online reservation required.

The little chemist, Made in Asia, Betty Quette, the night watchman... Ring a bell? The Palais des Congrès transforms into a grand department store to celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Pink Soldier. This musical tale, first released in 2006 with stars like M, Vanessa Paradis, and Jeanne Cherhal, tells the story of Joseph, a young boy who dreams of staying in the world of childhood forever. He decides to live in a department store—naturally, in the toy section. At night, in a poetic Toy Story-like twist, he discovers that the toys around him come to life and meets the pink soldier, the store’s oldest toy, who’s never been purchased and constantly yearns for his fiancée, sold long ago.

Perfect music by Louis Chedid, grand costumes, dazzling lights... Expect a new set, fresh direction, and an all-new cast to deliver the same enchantment for kids and adults alike.

The Pink Soldier at Palais des Congrès, 2 Place de la Porte Maillot, Paris 17th.

© Le Soldat Rose

Under the creative direction of Kamel Ouali—now a parent and eager to explore cultural offerings for children—Paradis Latin presents an all-new show designed for the whole family. Mon Premier Cabaret takes over the venue in the afternoon to introduce kids and teens to the joys of musical performances, complete with stunning choreography and infectious energy.

The young troupe delivers back-to-back scenes with incredible costumes and captivating staging, blending fairy tale themes (witches, princesses...) with modern obsessions (superheroes, Justin Bieber...) spotted on TikTok. And don’t worry—parents won’t be bored either!

Mon Premier Cabaret at Paradis Latin, from December 21 to February 9. Starting at €50.
© Walter Butler

Who hasn’t imagined walking among extinct species? From beetles to giant tortoises, the dodo, saber-toothed tiger, Steller's sea cow, elephant bird, or Tasmanian tiger, Revivre presents species fully modeled in 3D and animated images. Heads up for your little ones: the animals will be life-sized!

Head to Jardin des Plantes, put on your augmented reality glasses, and watch extinct animals and plants come to life in the displays. The augmented reality glasses create a spectacularly immersive and social experience, unlike VR headsets—you can still interact with others while enjoying the surrounding decor.

Revivre, extinct animals in augmented reality. Jardin des Plantes, Natural History Museum, 57 Rue Cuvier, Paris 5th. Open daily during school holidays except Tuesdays, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Tickets range from €13 to €16. More information online.
© MNHN, Saola & J. Munier

The magic of Christmas takes over the Parc Floral de Paris for an immersive walk featuring unique and exceptional luminous and sound installations. This magnificent stroll highlights Asia with over a thousand illuminated sculptures perfectly synchronized to Christmas music, adding a touch of extra magic that will amaze both young and old.

The 2km route is designed as a discovery of ancient Chinese art, India, Japanese fauna and flora, and even a recreation of the northern lights. A wonderful journey with an eco-friendly approach to set a good example for little ones: 100% renewable energy, LED lighting, and respect for plant life.

L’Odyssée Lumineuse, Parc Floral de Paris, Route de la Pyramide, Paris 12th, until January 19, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 10 PM. Tickets start at €10. Information and reservations online.
© L’Odyssée Lumineuse

Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary activity to tire out your hyperactive kids? Head to Palaiseau via RER to the Trampoline Park. Picture this: walking on walls, playing dodgeball on trampolines, or jumping across dozens of giant trampolines with a “Jump around! Jump up, jump up, and get down…” vibe. You know the song.

To delight the little ones: activities like obstacle courses for athletic fun on the twister with its rotating arm to dodge while jumping as high as possible, a warrior-style slide on logs, or adventurer mode climbing through nets.

Trampoline Park, 10 Rue de la Croix Martre, 91120 Palaiseau. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Open Wednesday and Thursday from 2 PM to 8 PM, Friday from 2 PM to 9 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM. Tickets start at €10 per child, reservation required.
© Trampoline Park Palaiseau

With the 2025 World Cup set for July, kids dream of becoming football stars. For the most determined who are ready to train as rigorously as their idols Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann in hopes of going pro, the PSG Academy offers amazing camps in the Paris region during the Christmas holidays.

Technical training sessions in the morning, tactical exercises, and matches in the afternoon help strengthen team spirit and put acquired skills into practice for maximum progress—all under the guidance of instructors trained by the club. Four intense days to delight the most motivated young athletes.

PSG Academy, information and reservations online. Half-board camp from Tuesday to Friday, starting at €270.
© PSG Academy

Welcome to the chicest mountain chalet in the capital! While the courtyard hosts a gourmet winter table by Jean Imbert, children are dropped off at the ice rink, exclusively reserved for them from 3 to 7 PM (for ages 3 to 12). The rink then opens to chalet guests from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Professional skaters are on hand to teach kids to twirl on the ice like in Holiday on Ice, showcasing the most promising talents.

While the little ones enjoy 30 minutes of intense skating fun, adults indulge in treats by pastry chefs Angelo Musa and Elisabeth Hot, keeping an eye on their kids. Hot chocolate, champagne, mini yule logs, mini panettone, and savory finger food from the Plaza provide a sweet wait as they admire the cherubs' stunts.

Plaza Athénée Ice Rink, 25 Avenue Montaigne, Paris 8th, open until February 2nd, Wednesday to Sunday. Adult package at €80 for a sweet snack; child package at €30 (under 12) with afternoon rink access from 3 to 7 PM.
© Le Chalet du Plaza Athénée – Boby Allin

Boum Boum Villette is a 100% fun and food spot, home to a global food market and 25,000 m² of #LOL-filled activities.

One standout attraction: brace yourself for the largest escape game in Europe and the first in France dedicated to the Batman universe. Awesome! Spanning over 3,000 m², three rooms with three different missions await the public: The Batcave, The Riddler, and The Joker. In the latter, players (2–6) take on the role of journalists seeking a scoop on the murderous prankster, navigating purely devilish puzzles. Suspense guaranteed…

After the session, introduce your kids to flying with iFly’s giant wind tunnel or challenge them with questions or songs in the Quiz Room©. Wrap up the day with an unforgettable movie session at the massive Pathé Gaumont upstairs, followed by snacks from one of the many food stands. Guaranteed to keep them thoroughly entertained!

Batman The Escape at Boum Boum Villette, 30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, Paris 19th. 01 49 70 83 30.
© AnthonyJean @BatmanEscape

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