Louvre

Check out their site online for specific details, but I'll bet the Louvre would not want your kids standing in a line without you! By the way, the Louvre is a massive museum which takes days and days to see. My husband is an artist so we have done it all! Review Steve's guidebook for aspects that will appeal to children, no matter how old your kids are. After a while, the paintings, although magnificent, begin to take on a "been there, done that" vibe. Could be really boring to kids–even those who are budding artists. By the way, you don't have to stand in that enormous line; there's another entrance off to the side which never seems to have anybody waiting to go in. Steve's guide may have that on his map. Check it out. If not, look at the map online and pinpoint the location. Have fun!

If you follow Rick's advice and have a museum pass or its equivalent, your children get in line with you and have no problem at any site in Paris. We were there two weeks ago and our children, 13 and 17 just followed us in. They could ask for ID but we never were asked. Beware, there is a short museum pass entrance at the underground mall near the inverted pyramid where you can SOMETIMES get right in. Last year we did so, this year, there was a "tete Richard" security guard that made us go upstairs, outside and across the entire Louvre courtyard to the main entrance. Upon exiting the museum for the day a different security guard was there letting people in as per Rick's advice. I am not a summer fan of the Louvre, it was horribly hot, and the Mona Lisa room smells like a locker room.

Anne no need to prepurchase tickets either.. I have been at least 12 or 13 times now.. you simply use the entrance via the Carosuel Mall which is off the Rue du Rivoli ( not "ravioli"lol ) Then you can buy tickets from the machines, or from the Tabac shop in the mall .. Took us all of 3 minutes last summer. Kids go in with parents with ticket or pass .. and yes, if kids look old enough bring id, I have never had my kids asked for it, but oldest was only 13. The Louvre is great for kids, my 13 yr old son ASKED for a return visit( and he was not arty or academic, he was a skateboarding kid who liked to wear his pants hanging off his butt, lol ). The trick is of course to pick and choose what you see. Napoleons apartments, the Medieval Louvre, the Egyptian section. etc.. and yes a few paintings , helps if you get audio guides or if you look up a few pieces before you go and educate yourself on them a bit then you can tell kids a few tidbits ,, this really worked with my kids anyways.

Anne no need to prepurchase tickets either.. I have been at least 12 or 13 times now.. you simply use the entrance via the Carosuel Mall which is off the Rue du Rivoli ( not "ravioli"lol ) Then you can buy tickets from the machines, or from the Tabac shop in the mall .. Took us all of 3 minutes last summer. Kids go in with parents with ticket or pass .. and yes, if kids look old enough bring id, I have never had my kids asked for it, but oldest was only 13. The Louvre is great for kids, my 13 yr old son ASKED for a return visit( and he was not arty or academic, he was a skateboarding kid who liked to wear his pants hanging off his butt, lol ). The trick is of course to pick and choose what you see. Napoleons apartments, the Medieval Louvre, the Egyptian section. etc.. and yes a few paintings , helps if you get audio guides or if you look up a few pieces before you go and educate yourself on them a bit then you can tell kids a few tidbits ,, this really worked with my kids anyways.

If you go on Wednesday or Friday evening when the Louvre is open late, say between 5-6, it will be a lot less crowded and much more enjoyable.

I know your question was about just the Louvre - but wanted to make certain you know about the Paris Museum pass. This was a good value for our family and allowed us to skip many lines at other museums. Your children will not need one- they enter with you
Also- if you do use the'back door' entrance, do go to the pyramid area - we had a lot of fun watching and then taking the 'trick'pictures where you make it look like you have your finger on the top of the pyramid

Thank you all so very much for the great information! Much appreciated:>

On the Louvre's website, use the "Activities and Tours" link. There are several self-guided tours ("thematic trails") that are designed for families/children.

Much appreciated! Thanks to all for the great advice!