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Cultivating Culture
By J. M. Pasquesi

When Visiting Rome with Kids, Art Appreciation Can Be Child's Play!

Rome was not built in a day, and children do not become "cultured" overnight. Just like the ancient city of Rome, people acquire culture in layers, especially through experiencing foreign countries, customs, and fine art. For young children in particular, there is no place like Rome to pick up that first, enlightening layer, because their experience will be filled with precious memories of images, sounds, and tastes that appeal to children, with the added bonus being the fact that children are adored by Italians and will likely be treated like royalty everywhere they go!

In Rome, kids develop and improve their young minds while scrambling through ruins, running in parks, and splashing in fountains.

Culture, human activity, and the ability to communicate symbolically through art, architecture, and music, is a defining feature of humanity. The word culture is derived from the Latin word for cultivate, as in cultivate the land, but came to assume the figurative meaning of "cultivate the mind" in the Renaissance—so take your kids straight to the source for a legendary cultural experience. The Eternal City is a world-class urban tableau with unique qualities that make family travel a breeze.

Touring the cradle of Western Civilization can sound overwhelming—museums, art, and architecture do not immediately appeal to kids in the same manner as Disneyworld, but that begins to change as soon as they discover the gladiators, skeleton hunts, and secret passageways that await them. Keep in mind that history and art are not boring; following behind adults on tour is, however, very boring. Introducing children to art, new cultures, and foreign foods is simply a matter of presenting these new experiences in fun and dynamic ways.

Kids like to be active and love dramatic stories, so introduce them to art and history in engaging and active ways. In my book, Rome with Kids: An Insider's Guide, I take families on adult-oriented tours, but I always engage children, too.  Lay some groundwork on the airplane by introducing your kids to a few key historical figures who shaped the city—perhaps by reading them the short, thumbnail biographies I provide.

Knowing a few colorful characters, along with their family symbols (coats-of-arms), will pay off when your kids can discover things before you do! Family symbols adorn palaces, monuments, and sculptures, turning the city into a stone zoo full of dragons, lions, birds, and bears. Imagine your child discovering one of Pope Urban VIII's bees on a fantastic fountain: they will delight in being able to inform you of something for a change! Remember, kids like to be active not passive. Read more...

Family Hotels Rome

Rome Parks and Playgrounds

Rome Restaurants

© J.M. Pasquesi, all rights reserved.

J.M. Pasquesi is the author of Rome with Kids: An Insider's Guide. For more tips and info, check out RomeWithKids.com