Parentville Blog

The holiday season in Geneva offers many enchanting activities and destinations for families, kids, and everybody else to immerse themselves in festive cheer. Here's a curated selection of the best Christmas activities in Geneva and around! Ready? Let's do it!1....

As the days grow shorter and the weather turns chilly, finding engaging indoor activities for children becomes essential. Museums offer a treasure trove of experiences that captivate young minds, making them ideal destinations during the colder months. From...

Summer is here to prove Geneva is not boring! The canton, the city, and other municipalities organize a lot of events, including fun things for kids. If we add the lake, paddling pools, and swimming pools on hot days, and all the fun summer trips and hikes to do -...

You may have heard about TotUp - a private creche chain in several cantons, and also a primary school. But have you heard about TotUp bilingual summer camps and summer childcare for kids under 4 years old? It’s such a game changer for working parents!Parents in the...

Discover a fantastic selection of high-quality summer camps in Geneva! Whether you're looking for camps in English or French, there's something for everyone—from toddlers and older kids to teenagers. These camps offer a variety of activities, including sports,...

Save the date! On March 28th, at 16:30 Just Bloom is throwing the most entertaining Easter party for kids Geneva has ever seen. It will be a 2 hours long Easter party extravaganza with egg hunts, workshops, entertainers, make-up, and a paper confetti disco! Not to...

Geneva's schools will close for two weeks. If you're staying in Geneva during that time, this article is for you. It is filled with fun events and propositions of places to visit. If you prefer Easter-themed fun, there's plenty in this article. PS: there's also always...

Spring break and Easter holidays are here! If you're planning to be in Geneva around that time, rest assured there will be plenty of things to do and see in the region! This list below is all about Easter activities. The spring break propositions (without eggs or...

A new wave in children's swimming education is making a splash in Geneva (and Aubonne)! Let's welcome Aquababies! Innovative children's swim lessons for families seeking a blend of safety, fun, and tailored learning for their little ones. Founded in 1990 by the...

Whether your child is into soccer or not, this article is for you. Because Intersoccer is not about professional football and raising the next Ronaldo (well, not primarily). Soccer is more than just a sport – it's a teacher of life skills. Intersoccer emphasizes the...

December, here we come! Here's a list of fun Christmas-y things to do with your family in the region. It will be impossible to do everything, so plan wisely. Many of these events and places are open yearly, so don't worry if you miss out this time. You can always do...

Who wouldn't want to receive an answer to their letters to Santa? Every year thousands of children on both hemispheres write letters of wishes to Santa in hope, not only to get the gifts but also to hear back from the old man. Then, the parents already busy by...

"Geneva Daycares in Danger" is based on a conversation with Kristina Babina (founder of the TotUp Creche chain) and an email exchange with Mme ​​Sophie Demaurex (member of Geneva’s Grand Conseil, from the Partie Socialiste).We all know how hard it is to get a place in...

Once the warm weather goes into hiding and grey rainy days take over, one incredible thing can bring joy to both young and old - theatre! Luckily, we are blessed to have Simply Theatre in Geneva, bringing the excitement of British-style drama to the stage. Immerse...

Revolv Bikes is revolutionizing the way kids ride! Say goodbye to the stress of buying a bike that your child will outgrow in no time. They take care of everything, from hassle-free delivery to your doorstep to the seamless return process when your child is ready for...

Are you searching for Halloween activities for your kids or the entire family? Look no further, as Parentville has you covered! Geneva and the surrounding region are bustling with spooky events, including an exhilarating Halloween Festival! While trick-or-treating is...

If you haven’t heard about Simply Theatre by now (or heard but didn’t get into the details), stop now and read what I have to tell you. It’s an English-speaking Theatre with a performing arts Academy. You can see their shows in Versoix and Zurich or enrol your...

It’s sometimes hard to write a school review but not this time. I visited the TotUp school in Lancy, and I was increasingly in awe with every minute of the tour! Of course, we all have different ideas of what a great school is, and as I will try to make this article...

Summer is around the corner! It's the last moment to book the best summer camps in Geneva. Below, you'll find a selection that covers various interests, and ages. There are plenty of summer camps in Geneva, it's impossible to list them all, but I hope you'll find...

Time flies, kids grow up fast. Can we rely on our memory to grasp all that’s precious? Somewhat, probably. But photography is a great way to help our memory and this is why I have to tell you about Anna de Wit and her unique family photo session. Psst: Mother’s Day is...

Language camps can be joyful and fun for kids of all ages! Spell Languages makes sure children immerse in the language while having the best time ever - after all, summer is all about playing and having a great time! These camps are so fabulous, many kids end up...

Fun things are happening this Easter in Geneva and around! Especially for families with kids of all ages! Even for those who don't celebrate Easter, there are fun spring-related outings that will fill you with joy! Ready? Let's do it!Festichoc,24-26 march, Versoix...

The February springtime is over. It looks like skiing is mostly over too. Let's welcome the cold and unpredictable March with a warm hello. Why? Finally, a month without school holidays! And a month of some exciting events in Geneva! Ready? Let's do it!TITEUF...

Staying in Geneva over the February holidays and wondering what to do? Parentville to the rescue! Traditional winter activities (sledging, skiing, and snowman building) are looking less and less possible as snow is melting fast. But! There's so much more to do. Ready?...

The new year is here! It starts with weather that goes from spring to winter and autumn in between. This means it is problematic to plan the usual winter fun, like sledging. But hey! Parentville's got you covered. In this article, I gathered the best events happening...

Geneva lights up not only for Christmas. No, no, no. The end of January marks the start of the Geneva Lux Festival. It will last till 05.02.2023. Illuminated pieces of art in the streets of Geneva are a perfect reason to dress warmly and make good use of the early...

This year started with record-high temperatures. For many families, this end-of-the-year holiday has always meant sledging and snowman-building somewhere in the nearby mountains. This year it's only possible if you're up for driving farther and higher. But! There's a...

I was talking to my British friend the other day about our families' Christmas traditions. The amount of singular dishes that traditionally have to be placed on the Christmas table got a bit of a giggle, but it was the hay placed under the tablecloth that got her...

Christmas family starts now! Use this article to plan outings to step into the Christmas season. There is something here for everyone, for all ages. There are shows to see, parks to visit, and places to enjoy! Ready? Let's do it! NOEL AU JARDINNovember 17 – December...

October holidays are tricky for staycation planning - it's only one week, the weather is tricky, and gosh it's the whole week. For those of you who would like to explore new places and use this week for some fun outings. I compiled a list of resources already...

This article is dedicated to all Muslim women and girls in the Parentville community and those who want to understand a bit more. At the bottom of the text, you’ll find propositions of childrens books about on religious tolerance.OH, THE IRONY. By now, the whole world...

Are you looking for fun Halloween activities in Geneva? Then you're in the right place! Well. Assuming you're looking for Halloween in Geneva events in 2022, that is. My Halloween hunt for events will continue, and I will be adding them to the events calendar - check...

The first of the summer, the last of the school year - June is a busy and exciting month. Rest assured that between booking the summer camps and hunting for gifts for teachers, there is a lot of fun ahead! I will now spare you a prolonged blah blah blah kind of intro...

You ask - Parentville answers. This article is the collective answer to all the questions about summer camps you send my way. Is there anything for toddlers? Is there any fully outdoor camp? Anything fun on my side of the lake? You'll find all answers below. I am sure...

У школах Женеви звикли мати дітей, які не володіють французькою. Діти в Женеві ідуть до школи приблизно 20 серпня, коли їм виповнюється чотири роки. Діти, народжені з серпня до грудня, починають навчатися через рік після тих, хто народився з січня до липня. Перший...

Ludotheques «Іграшкотеки» – це бібліотеки іграшок з ігровими зонами. Прийти та погратися в будь-якій із цих «іграшкотек» кантону можна цілком безкоштовно. Щоб орендувати іграшки, потрібно сплатити абонентську плату в розмірі 30 швейцарських франків на рік. Можна...

Spring is here, it will get hot soon, the sun will shine and hopefully, the viruses will give us a break. As always, spring marks the beginning of fun events in Geneva. But enough of this blah, blah, blah. Let's see what's on this month for families in Geneva! Ready?...

Oksana Petersen from Nutrition Right is back on Parentville with simple, tasty and healthy recipes that can be prepared with kids. Enjoy and bon apetit! Easter just came and went leaving behind the chocolate egg wrappers. We all enjoyed one or two chocolate eggs, but...

Knock On Wood - remember this name, because sooner or later your kids will want to create with wood. Or you will want them to discover the wooden world from scratch. How cool would it be for them to have a wooden game made with their own hands? The satisfaction that...

A bit of sun, a bit of snow 0 this is how April rolls! Let's see what's up this month in Geneva. There are festivals, exhibitions, and fun shows! It's a month full of celebrations: Ramadan, Easter, Passover, and Orthodox Easter! What a feast! In this article, I'll...

This Guide, in English and French, is for you whether you would like to host people in need from Ukraine, or if you would like to provide general help, support hosts, or get involved in any way. Inside you'll find practical information and more! There are two links to...

The ongoing help for Ukraine and people escaping the war in this country is extraordinary! Most of the people from Ukraine flee to Poland and citizens of this country have been doing an amazing job - it's a nationwide humanitarian action on all fronts. Forgive me for...

Hey, hey! How are you? We have just finished with December festivities and boom, February school break is coming up! I prepared a whole other article with propositions for the school holidays (link at the bottom of this page). Here, let's see what's up in Geneva in...

How about getting away for a day? No need to search for a hotel, no need to go very far. One day trip can transform a weekend into a vacation-like time. It has the power to make you feel like the weekend was long and fruitful. Will you try? Below, you'll find some...

You can have a great holiday week without leaving the city! What's more, the week of fun in Geneva is possible for all budgets - just choose activities wisely. Apart from the parks, museums, and playgrounds, there are lots to do and see! Don't ever believe people who...

Welcome to the list of February camps. Parents have fewer vacation days than kids. For many of you, camps are necessary. For others, it's an occasion to introduce kids to something new or organize a week full of joy and new friendships. No matter the reason, this list...

Happy New Year! I hope 2022 will be treating you well! There are some fun family events in January in Geneva this year! Not a huge amount but enough to stay occupied. We're starting the year similarly to the last one, with coronavirus having a party at our cost. But,...

Ho Ho Ho! There are so many Christmas events this year, so much wonderfulness, it seems that we will be rewarded for the dryness of the previous year. Christmas 2021 here we come! Without any further ado, Let's do it!MAIN EVENTS NOEL AU JARDIN November 18 - December...

We survived Halloween, now is the time to brace ourselves for November. Why? We now have one month to Thanksgiving, Escalade, and just a few weeks till Christmas! Days are short and time flies faster, hence the bracing need. Luckily, it's also the month of Automnales...

Oksana from Nutrition Right is back on Parentville with her lovely recipes. Her idea is to provide you with easy, healthy and yummy recipes to prepare with kids. Enjoy! To help you ensure your kids eat healthy products and avoid getting sick, I am sharing two tasty...

A beautiful, and visibly filled with lots of positive energy lady, Dany, gathers kids around to welcome them at the camp. "My job is going through all kinds of bins", she says to explain her job. Some kids laugh, some are baffled. Mommy said to never get stuff out of...

Boo! It's Halloween season and I bet you're up for some spookingly fun time. Well, as every year, I put together a list of some of the events happening on the occasion of Halloween in Geneva. Ready? Let's do it!Swiss Vapeur Parc October 14th - 30th; Le Bouveret; all...

Say what? What holidays? The school has just started! Potato holidays are a surprise to many. It depends on where you're from. The argument behind having the October holidays is in the past, and it is a simple one. In October, kids had to help harvest potatoes (and...

Summer is officially over but family-friendly events in Geneva are not. Grab your coat and let's go (umbrella can become handy, too). You'll see that the menu is wide enough to please everyone every weekend and beyond. Halloween-themed events included. And one brand...

In the times of online news and online everything, do you still like to snuggle under a warm blanket holding an excellent magazine? How about passing this pleasure down to your kids? There are indeed, Swiss magazines for kids. If they are French-speakers or even...

What kinds of activities do you choose for your kids? Have you ever thought of creative courses? What I am going to talk about now is not bricolage, painting, or drama. We will talk about a badass version of creative activity. The one that involves cool machines and...

Summer holidays are over but fun for families is in Geneva the whole year. September is the start of new programs in theatres,  outdoors festivals that want to benefit from nice weather till it lasts, and weekend events to give us a breath from all the same weekdays....

There is a place in Geneva where adults can enjoy a glass of something nice, while kids play at a fantastic indoors playground! Maze Cafés.

Urban Events Geneva prepared a treasure hunt that makes for a perfect summer activity with kids! If you have kids 4 years old or more that like ice creams, this is an adventure for you (well, for them)! It's all about solving puzzles, looking for a lost treasure while...

Oksana is back on Parentville with her lovely recipes. Her idea is to provide you with easy, healthy and yummy recipes to prepare with kids. Enjoy! Summertime is berries time! Whether you purchase them in a supermarket, at a farmer's market or go pick them yourself -...

Giving gifts at the end of the year is not, to my knowledge, a tradition in Switzerland. Most of the Swiss parents I know, don't practice it. If they decide to offer a thank you/goodbye something for the teacher, it is usually a kid's drawing or cookies. But. I don't...

Quartier Libre by SIG has become a crucial place on Geneva’s map. Each exhibition they organize is fantastic, but the current one, Global Happiness, is incredibly brilliant, heart touching and thought-provoking. Global Happiness is a very family-friendly exhibition!...

Merre et Terre is a shop but also so much more than a shop. You can go there to buy lots of  baby-related articles, all organic and planet-friendly. But you can also go for advice, go there to meet other moms. Walk in to be listened, not judged, to join a community,...

Spring is here, and as every year (well, second year in a row) places have reopened. There's more to do outdoors, indoors, and some small festivals, events, and workshops are popping up. A May 2021 round up for families in Geneva is here! You can always find more...

Congratulations on your baby! You have become a parent. Now what? I mean, the excitement will ease down, the hormones storm will end up but you're still stuck with a baby and all you dream about is some adults conversation. But not any conversation right? During the...

Here we are again: Easter many of us will, yet one more time, spend far away from families. It's been a hard, stressful year. But let's not forgotten about positive things that happened along, eg. the contactless payment limit went up from 30 CHF to 80 CHF ). I could...

Climbing is a fascinating activity that many kids naturally engage in at home. Why not let them explore this passion in a safe, specially designed environment? Welcome to Planet Climbing, with two state-of-the-art facilities in Geneva: one in Lancy and our new space...

Another day, another stroll. Or a hike. What’s the difference? In this case, there is none. It’s a perfect (long) loop, so you can start at various points. You can also adapt the length if this hike to your liking, but then it won’t be a loop. You’ll find a map at the...

Here at Parentville, we love museums. We believe in their power to fascinate children, broaden their horizons and stimulate their imagination. But we also think that museums need to make some effort to have an impact on kids. Musee du Leman in Nyon is one of the...

The weather is beautiful, and the Federal Council allowed museums to reopen on March 1st. In the whole country. Let's celebrate by looking into what is actually going on in the museums - in Geneva. I'll soon prepare the same recap for all museums between Geneva and...

The International Institute of Lancy (IIL) has become the first school in Switzerland to implement the Finish anti-bullying program: KIVA. On top of being an excellent school, with a great educational program, sports and cultural activities, they are also attributing...

How about a stroll through the forest, by the river, with a vineyards finish line? Thanks to a friend, we discovered this 8km loop. This walk starts in Choully and finishes in Choully - a perfect loop with changing scenery and adventurous passages. It’s not pram...

Many of you contacted me frustrated about spending February holiday in the city with everything closed. It's true: no museums, no ice skating, no cinemas, theatres, or bowling. But I promise there are other options! I have vowed to never leave families in Geneva...

So, you've been living in Switzerland for a while. You've visited some mountains and a few lakes. You get to know the country more and more every weekend. You may have even learnt some French (yey!). But how much do you really know about it?Speaking the language and...

Ferme la Gavotte is one of the most popular places among families in Geneva. It's a petting farm with sheep, goats, poneys, rabbits, and more (more about it here). They also offer money rides on Wednesdays and on weekends. And guess what? It is very close to the river...

You're about to find out how to transform a simple outing into a fun Geneva outdoor adventure! Because let's face it, at some point strolling through the city gets boring even if we change places regularly. It's still just walking. But not anymore! Next time you...

One of the most frequent question parents hear is "can I have a snack?". Sometimes it gets asked so many times a day, it's difficult to have so many snacks prepared, not to mention healthy options. I mean.. how many times a day can I offer an apple to my kid? We...

This bizarre year is almost over, and with this ending comes Christmas. For obvious resons, most Christmas events have been cancelled, but it does not mean there is nothing to do! I mean, this is why you follow Parentville, right? Whatever the season, whatever the...

Institut International de Lancy (aka IIL) is a school with a long-standing history starting in 1903. The school offers a French section (with a French curriculum), and an English section (with a British curriculum). They have recently expanded their bilingual section...

There’s a new magazine for girls (and the rest of the world)  in Switzerland - "Kosmos". I can’t wait to tell you all about it! It's fun, it's wise, it's silly, it's interesting, and more! It opens the door to new interests, passions, and self-confidence. (And no, I...

Here we are again with Covid messing with our lives on all possible levels. Geneva has announced the closure of almost everything. No more museums, libraries, ice-rinks, no indoor family-friendly attractions. At least school remain open, but what to do on weekends,...

Warm clothes, boots, umbrellas - prepare the gear and enjoy the outdoors! Because in Geneva there are so many beautiful places. I even found three that are suitable for prams! Unfortunately, many fascinating places close to Geneva are in France, where we can't go at...

Halloween is all about candy, but is it? It's also about ghosts, zombies, dress up, and... pumpkins! We all now the sugar rash that accompanies the Halloween eveing, and I am not about to tell you to ban candy. I will myself get some candy from my daughter's bucket...

Holidays not far away from home? Hell, yeah! It’s especially great with kids, and especially practical in the times of travel-uncertainty. Luckily, Geneva’s location is a gem! Within 1h drive in every direction there are so many great holiday-destinations, one would...

Kids love to climb! From the moment they learn how to move around they try climbing the furniture around the house. It's a great sport that engages all the muscles, demands thinking, planning ahead, and provides tons of fun! Recently, in Geneva and around there are...

We're experiencing an especially cold and wet October but it doesn't mean there is nothing going on. Below, you'll find events and places that offer entertainment this month. As someone who regularly gives ideas for family outings, in these special times, I would like...

There is a museum in Geneva that all families love. In the past few years, it provided us with amazing exhibitions (eg. about dinosaurs, ants, predators, duck fleas, and more). The permanent exhibition is also incredible, with many gems hiding behind the glass. It is,...

Looking for an October camp for your kids? You're in the right place. Many parents have no other choice than to work and find a camp but this year there are also many who had to cancel their trips last minute due to this year's chaos. This list aims to help you find...

Despite the uncertainty of the Covid-19 situation, it looks like for now, many events are taking place in September. Some are well known, many are already beloved by Geneva families. Bear in mind, that due to Covid-19 restrictions, most events have participants...

From now on, once per season (let's see how many seasons will have this year), Oksana Petersen will share with you yummy and healthy recipes that the whole family can enjoy. She invites you all to cook with children using seasonal produce. For this last few weeks of...

It's back to school time! Are you ready? For many it will be the first day of school. In this article, there is something for everyone. You'll find an explanation about the first year in the Geneva public school, lists of extracurricular activities, information about...

Children hear more than we think. They have more question than we assume. We have already gone through events that triggered conversations about gender equality, climate change, or refugees and wars. Now is the time to explain to them what racism is all about, and...

Laustine Your Dreams pyjamas have a great story fueled by women on every step of the process. The designs are cute, the fabrics soft, the brand is as eco friendly as it can be (and has a plan to become even more eco!), and on top of that, their pyjamas are affordable....