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Written by the Message Paris Volunteer Team Living in Paris as an expat means the holidays often involve a big trek home—whether by train or plane, those long travel days are made worthwhile by the treasures we bring back. These aren't your typical tourist souvenirs. These are the treats, finds, and uniquely Parisian gifts that our team actually buys for their own loved ones. Here's what we're packing in our suitcases this season. For the Food Lover: French Butter & Sel de Guérande Recommended by Meg, VP of Events For my relatives who love to cook, I always look forward to bringing back French butter and sel de Guérande (fleur de sel from the Brittany region). French butter is cultured and has a higher fat content than American butter, giving it that distinctive rich, tangy flavor that transforms everything from morning toast to holiday baking. You can find excellent butter at your local fromagerie, neighborhood grocery stores, or splurge at Le Grand Épicerie  at Bon Marché, who will vacuum seal your butter for free. Just make sure to keep it in the freezer before your trip so it stays cold during travel. Pair it with a small jar of sel de Guérande—those delicate salt crystals are a chef's secret weapon. Pro tip:  Bordier butter (the one with the wooden stamp) is the gold standard if you can find it! For Little Ones: French Children's Books Recommended by Amaris, VP of Information Technology For my various nieces and nephews who range from a few months old to 3 years old, I'm bringing back Ceci n'est pas un livre  (This is not a book) by French artist Jean Jullien. The English version is out of print, but the French version is still available at the famous children's bookstore Chantelivre  in the 6th arrondissement. I love this book because it encourages imagination—it's funny, full of possibilities, and celebrates play in the way only French children's books seem to do. Plus, it's by a celebrated French artist and unavailable in the States anymore, which makes it feel extra special. Even for non-French speakers, the visual storytelling is so strong that kids (and parents) will get it immediately. For Tea & Chocolate Lovers: A Classic French Pairing Recommended by Jun, Treasurer My go-to gift is always Mariage Frères tea  paired with dark chocolates from Patrick Roger  or Michel Cluizel . Mariage Frères has been blending tea in Paris since 1854, and their black tins with exotic blends like Marco Polo or Thé des Lords feel like little pieces of Parisian elegance. The tea salon experience in the Marais is iconic, but you can pick up tins at their boutiques throughout the city. Pair it with bean-to-bar chocolate from Patrick Roger (his sculptures are works of art) or Michel Cluizel's vintage chocolate bars for a sophisticated gift that any francophile will appreciate. It's always a treat—the kind of gift that turns an ordinary afternoon into something special. For the Art & Design Enthusiast: Watercolors & Parisian Decor Recommended by Amanda, VP of Membership For a unique and custom gift that captures the essence of Paris, I love Marin Montagut  in the Marais. This charming boutique features watercolor illustrations of Parisian scenes—think Jardin du Luxembourg, corner cafés, and iconic architecture—alongside curated home decor that feels both whimsical and sophisticated. Marin Montagut himself is an artist and interior designer, and his shop reflects his aesthetic: a celebration of Parisian beauty with a nostalgic twist. Everything is painted in his distinctive watercolor style, from prints and notebooks to decorative objects. During the holidays, they have a lovely selection of hand-painted ornaments that make perfect keepsakes. His work captures that ineffable Parisian charm—the kind you can't find anywhere else. The shop at 5 rue de Picardie feels like stepping into an artist's atelier, with every item telling a story about Paris past and present. For Stocking Stuffers: Mustard & Jam Recommended by Laura, Tech Lead I always make a pilgrimage to the Maille boutique  near Place de la Madeleine to pick up unique mustard gifts. Unlike the grocery store versions, the Maille shop offers exclusive flavors on tap—think black truffle, Chablis white wine, or cassis mustard—that you can't get anywhere else. They'll fill beautiful ceramic crocks or pump bottles for you, and the presentation alone makes it gift-worthy. Along with mustard, people always appreciate a Bonne Maman jam sampler set . You can find these at local grocery stores like Monoprix or Franprix, but the selection in France is far more extensive than what makes it to the States. Flavors like chestnut spread, fig jam, or wild blueberry feel indulgent and quintessentially French. More Paris Favorites Worth Exploring Chocolate, Bonbons & Sweet Treats La Mère de Famille  – Paris's oldest chocolatier (since 1761) offers gorgeous box sets filled with pralines, candied fruits, and traditional French confections. Adults and children alike will be enchanted. Jacques Genin  – For very indulgent caramels with unique flavors like salted butter, passion fruit, or yuzu. His pâtes de fruits are also extraordinary. La Maison du Chocolat  – Elegant, refined chocolate perfect for gifting. Pierre Hermé  – The macaron master. His seasonal flavors and beautiful boxes are iconic. Books, Prints & Art Artazart  – A design bookstore and concept shop along Canal Saint-Martin with tons of prints by local artists and an amazing selection of books on art, design, and architecture. Museum shops  – The Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, and Palais de Tokyo all have excellent selections of art books and unique gifts. Shakespeare and Company  – The legendary English-language bookshop is always worth a visit. Pick up a book stamped with their iconic logo for any book lover. Paris-Themed Gifts & Made in Europe Messy Nessy's Shop  – Located in the 2nd arrondissement, this vintage-inspired boutique is the brick-and-mortar extension of the cult favorite blog Messy Nessy Chic. Find quirky Paris-themed gifts, vintage finds, and carefully curated items that celebrate the hidden side of Paris. It's like shopping in a secret cabinet of curiosities. Merci  – This iconic concept store in the Marais is a must-visit for anyone seeking beautiful, thoughtfully sourced homewares and gifts. From French linens and ceramics to design books and vintage furniture, everything here is curated with impeccable taste. The café and flower shop make it a perfect afternoon stop. Landline  – A concept store dedicated to European-made goods, Landline is perfect for hosts, gardeners, and anyone who appreciates quality craftsmanship. Think elegant garden tools, hand-thrown pottery, artisanal soaps, and linens—all sourced from small European makers. It's the antithesis of mass production. Astier de Villatte  – For truly special ceramics and home fragrances, this Parisian institution handcrafts each piece in their Paris atelier. Their white pottery with its characteristic imperfect glaze and their unique candle scents (like Grand Chalet or Bois d'Orage) are unmistakably French. Empreintes  – This concept store in the Marais showcases the work of contemporary French and European designers and artists. From ceramic vases and jewelry to prints and textiles, everything is handmade by independent creators. It's the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind gifts that support the local creative community. Monoprix Gourmet  – Don't overlook this French staple! The gourmet section of Monoprix offers beautifully packaged French pantry items at reasonable prices—think olive oils, tinned fish, biscuits, and chocolates that make excellent gifts without breaking the bank. Know someone navigating life in Paris? Gift them a Message Paris membership—access to a welcoming community of English-speaking families, events, resources, and the support that makes Paris feel like home. Visit HERE Final Thoughts The best Paris gifts aren't necessarily the most expensive or elaborate—they're the ones that capture a little piece of French life and bring it home. Whether it's butter that transforms your morning toast, a children's book that sparks imagination, or a tin of tea that makes an ordinary afternoon feel special, these are the gifts that remind us why we fell in love with Paris in the first place. What are your favorite gifts to bring back from Paris? Share your recommendations in the comments below!

What better way to close out the fall vacances than with costumes, candy, and a little autumn rain? On Saturday, November 2, nearly 300 children and their families joined us for our annual Halloween Trick-or-Treating event at our exciting new location near the Luxembourg Gardens. A New Chapter Begins This year marked a special milestone as we hosted the event at a new spot near the beloved Luxembourg Gardens. Our dedicated volunteers arrived bright and early at 9:30am to transform the space into a Halloween area, setting up trick-or-treating stations that opened right at 10am. Rain Can't Dampen Halloween Spirit Mother Nature had her own tricks up her sleeve, with on-and-off showers throughout the morning. But as anyone who's spent time with determined trick-or-treaters knows, a little rain is no match for the promise of bonbons! The children persevered beautifully, darting between stations with their treat bags, their costumes growing more colorful as the rain added a bit of drama. Two Hours of Halloween Magic From 10am to noon, the area buzzed with excitement. Princesses, superheroes, witches, and countless creative characters filled the playground, taking breaks from trick-or-treating to enjoy the playground and burn off some of that pre-candy energy. Thank You to Our Halloween Heroes A huge thank you to our wonderful volunteers who made this event possible. Your early arrival and enthusiasm—rain or shine—created magical memories for hundreds of families. As the children head back to school this week, we hope the memories of this lovely Halloween morning will carry them through. Here's to resilient trick-or-treaters, and the community that makes these moments special! See you next year!

by Meg Gerner and Imelda The Message always has great activities even during the October break! This one was a fun storytime and art atelier. Just as you’re settled into the school routine and the dust has settled from the whirlwind that was the Rentrée in September, it’s time to take a break.  Every October, the kids have a two-week break called the Vacances de la Toussaint.  Now for families who spend the break in Paris, it can be a challenge finding fun activities and ways to occupy the kids.  So we thought, we’d do a short roundup of some activities we’ve tried and tested over the years.  Of course, your first port of call is as always, your Message calendar.  This year, we are celebrating Diwali, the Indian festival on October 25 and it is the perfect occasion to learn all about this festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and joy over sadness.  This year’s line-up includes Storytime for the kiddos, a Bollywood dance workshop and of course delicious Indian snacks!  Simply click on the link to secure your tickets to this wonderful cultural event. https://www.messageparis.org/event-details/diwali Our fabulous Trick or Treat event is likewise always during the vacation and that is one of our favorite events of the year!! This year, we have a new location. Wanna join and find out where we will be? https://www.messageparis.org/event-details/message-paris-spooktacular-trick-or-treat-2 If you are looking for more organized activities during the week, it’s a good idea to look for Vacation camps.  Here are a few places to check out: Vacation Camps Many schools will offer vacation “stages” or camps during the school break.  The stages generally will focus on a theme but will have a range of different activities during the day.  Some stages can start as young as 3 which makes this a great option for our preschoolers (or maternelle kids).  Additionally, some of the programs’ times are equivalent to a full day of school.  This is a great help to parents who still need to work during school vacation.  Some school camps we’ve tried include: -              First Steps Vacation Camps ( https://www.firststeps.fr/ ) – First Steps is a bilingual maternelle that offers a full day and half day bilingual camps for children from ages 3 to 9 years old.   During the camp, they propose baking/cooking, outside sports, arts and theme related activities.  The teachers are super sweet and kind and a great space for young children. -              Ecole Koenig Vacation Camp ( https://www.ecolekoenig.com/vacation-camps ) – Koenig is a music conservatory and a bilingual maternelle and primaire.  They offer a music oriented program which also includes activities in theatre and visual arts.  The camp is also bilingual and is for children ages 3 to 10 years old. -              Public Centre de Loisirs ( https://www.paris.fr/pages/centres-de-loisirs-2084 ) – Paris’ public school system opens up during vacations and allows students that are not registered in public schools to register for their vacation camps.  You can inquire and register at centres that will be open over the break (for the list check out the link above for more information).  These camps are open to kids from ages 3 to 14 years old and is only in French. It is also a good idea to check out your local private preschools for their vacation camp schedules. Activity Workshops Besides the camps organized by the schools, there are many other organizations that offer vacation camps around a specific theme (for example Disney musicals), sports (tennis is super popular) or activity (art or theatre).  For many of these camps, the age requirement tends to be for 5 years old and older.  As such it is always best to check each activity to see what the minimum age requirement is for the stage.  Here are some specific activity stages that we have tried: -              Paris University Club (PUC) ( https://puc.paris/stages-paris-universite-club ) – For those sporty kids or tons of energy to get out, you may want to consider PUC.  PUC is a sports club that offers stages in different sports including basketball, fencing, tennis, football, handball, and multisport just to name a few.  Some of the stages are offered for children as young as 4 years old.  Please refer to each sport to get the correct applicable age of the child.  The stages are conducted in French. -              Play-Well Teknologies ( https://play-well.fr/stages-lego-vacances-paris/ ) -  For the kids passionate about Lego this stage is for them! Play-well provides the lego, including motorized pieces, for them to create different themes each day. For example, one day the theme is magical creatures and they use the lego pieces to create their animals (my daughter created a dragon which could flap their wings using a motorized piece).  The animators help them to bring their creation to another level.  They can’t take their work home but the animators usually take a photo of it each day which they share with the parents.  The stage is French and is for children ages 6 to 12 years old.   -              Les Petits Atomes ( https://lespetitsatomes.com/  ) – For kids who love science, this stage helps them to explore.  Their stage program is based on experiment based learning where the kids will do different science experiments during the week.  Their stages are open for children ages 3 to 12 years old and have locations in Paris and Versailles.  The stage is done all in French. -              TechKids Academy ( https://www.techkidsacademy.com/stages-coding-enfants/ ) – For those kids obsessed with all things coding, TechKids is for them.  They offer coding classes in both English and French.  The type of classes offered include coding in Scratch, Python and Stencyl, as well as 2D and 3D art. They have locations in Paris 15eme, in St-Germain-en-Laye and in Levallois.  -              American Children’s Theatre (ACT) ( https://www.actparis.com/ ) – Now if your kids are passionate about singing, theatre and dance, ACT could be just for them.  They offer full day stages or half day stages all in English.  At the end of the week, the parents are invited to a show that highlights all the hard work the kids did during the vacation.  It is always great to see the kids blossom and perform confidently at the end of the week. -              Petite Foret Café- ( https://www.petiteforet.com/pages/stages-de-vacances ) has a great range of fun activities for the little ones during the break.  Their camps are for kids aged 3-8.  And parents have the option to do half-day, whole day or weekly.  Museums It might not be the most obvious thing to do, but the school vacations are a great time to visit the city’s different museums. Very often, they will organize a lot more kid friendly activities and even set up specific activities for them.  There are also more family oriented guided visits as well.  We have tried and loved the workshops at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs ( https://madparis.fr/ateliers-du-carrousel-vacances-scolaires ) and the Musee D’Orsay ( https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/agenda/visites-et-ateliers/vacances-orsay-automne-2025 ) also offers a great line-up of fun activities inspired by the art on display at the museum, all throughout the break.  These are just some of the activities that we have tried over the years but there are tons of other options out there.   The October break can be a great time for the family to travel.  However, if you are staying put, Paris remains a great city to explore and find new and interesting activities for the whole family.   Do you have other ideas to share? Comment on the post below and share with us your experiences and ideas!!

Today bilingual and bicultural families are the norm (1) , making our families and communities more culturally and linguistically diverse! With this amazing mixity comes questions of language choices we as parents make for our children. Do we each speak our dominant languages to our kids? Do we only speak the societal language to them? Do we prioritize English above all? How do we maintain minority heritage languages? Are bilingual schools/activities worth the extra effort? Should we expose our neurodivergent children to multiple languages? What even is bilingualism? There are so many options! Most academic and professional bodies define bilingualism as the acquisition and/or use of communicative skills in more than one language (2) . However, bilingualism is not concerned with equal levels of proficiency across languages. Here's what the most current research tells us about the impact of bilingualism on language and communication development for children with: TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT. Bilingually exposed children reach early language milestones at the same age as monolingual peers (3) . Typically developing children will acquire additional language(s) without specialist support. They acquire these communicative skills with varying degrees of proficiency, in oral and/or written forms, to interact with speakers of one or more languages at home and in society. The belief that exposure to two (or more) languages has or will ‘confuse’ our children is false . Code- switching/translanguaging is common and not of concern. ATYPICAL DEVELOPMENT . Bilingual exposure does NOT delay or disrupt communication development for neurodiverse children (4) . For example, bilingually exposed autistic children perform similarly to, if not better than, their monolingual peers in terms of expressive/receptive vocabulary (5 ) , gesture use (6) , and social communication skills. In fact, amongst autistic children there is a positive influence of bilingual exposure for cognitive and communication skills such as attention (7) , inhibitory control (8) , and maths (9) . Restricting our neurodivergent children’s natural language exposure may reduce communication opportunities for them, possibly impeding their ability to learn robust language structures, maximise academic success, and form familial relationships and cultural identity (10). The best way to help our children develop their communication skills is to give them our best examples – speak to them in the language(s) that feel most natural to you! Stay tuned for an upcoming online talk with Sarah on this topic. About the author: Sarah Oudet is a clinical-academic speech-language therapist. Born in Singapore, grown in Australia, lived in England, and currently based in France, Sarah is a PhD candidate at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Her work centers on parent-led therapy models of specific support for young autistic children in culturally and linguistically diverse environments. She has three bilingual/bicultural young’uns of her own and a bunch of plants in varying degrees of health. She is also a wanna-be painter, lover of starch and Message member. To connect with her, please head on to https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahoudet/ References 1 Grosjean, François. Bilingual. Harvard University Press, 2010, https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674056459 . 2 Stow, C., & Pert, S. (2015). SLT Assessment and Intervention : Best practice for children and young people in. RCSLT Position Papers, 1–28. 3 Muszyńska, K., Krajewski, G., Dynak, A., Garmann, N. G., Romøren, A. S. H., Łuniewska, M., Alcock, K., Katsos, N., Kołak, J., Simonsen, H. G., Hansen, P., Krysztofiak, M., Sobota, K., & Haman, E. (2025). Bilingual children reach early language milestones at the same age as monolingual peers. Journal of Child Language. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305000924000655 . 4 Jaumont, F. (2017). The bilingual revolution: The future of education is in two languages. Calec. 5 Hastedt, I., Eisenhower, A., Sheldrick, R. C., & Carter, A. S. (2023). Bilingual and Monolingual Autistic Toddlers: Language and Social Communication Skills. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(6), 2185–2202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05504-3 . 6 Zhou, V., Munson, J. A., Greenson, J., Hou, Y., Rogers, S., & Estes, A. M. (2019). An exploratory longitudinal study of social and language outcomes in children with autism in bilingual home environments. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 23(2), 394–404. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317743251. 7 Sharaan, S., Fletcher-Watson, S., & MacPherson, S. E. (2021). The Impact of Bilingualism on the Executive Functions of Autistic Children: A Study of English–Arabic Children. Autism Research, 14(3), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2439 . 8 Montgomery, L., Chondrogianni, V., Fletcher-Watson, S., Rabagliati, H., Sorace, A., & Davis, R. (2022). Measuring the Impact of Bilingualism on Executive Functioning Via Inhibitory Control Abilities in Autistic Children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(8), 3560–3573. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10803-021-05234- Y/TABLES/6. 9 Vanegas, S. B. (2019). Academic skills in children with autism spectrum disorders with monolingual or bilingual experience. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, 4. https://doi.org/10.1177/2396941519888170/ASSET/IMAGES/LARGE/10.1177_2396941519888170-FIG1.JPEG . 10 Beauchamp, M. L. H., & MacLeod, A. A. N. (2017). Bilingualism in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Making Evidence Based Recommendations. Canadian Psychology, 58(3). https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000122.

Bonjour friends! As August slowly comes to an end, and families make their way back home, everyone is now focused on la rentrée or back to school. This year, about 12 million kids and 850,000 teachers will be headed back to school rooms and another school year begins. In a lot of ways, la rentrée feels like the new year, a fresh start if you will. This is the time to sign up the kids (and even the grownups!)for different activities- from sports to arts. Maybe it’s also time for a wardrobe refresh as the weather turns cooler (or rainier). Of course, it can also be stressful getting everything ready. This is especially true for families whose kids are going to the French school system for the first time. To help our families get over that hurdle, we gathered a few practical tips from different Message members to help you and your kid/s get ready for the rentrée. This article, will cover more of the practical “check the box” type tips. Stay tuned for Part II which will cover different ways to get your child mentally and emotionally ready for the upcoming school year. Getting All that School Material School Supplies - Before buying school supplies, go through last year’s supplies to see what else can be used for the new year. If this is your first year in the French system, there are certain places or services that can help put together the supplies you need without you having to trek up and down the aisles with your long list in hand. Online Services – There are many online services where you can upload your school list and they will purchase the items on your list and send them to your home. Some examples of these types of services are: Scoleo - https://www.scoleo.fr/  Cultura - https://www.cultura.com/ (for specific page click HERE )  Bureau Vallée - https://www.bureau-vallee.fr/schoollist Local Papeteries – Papeteries or stationery stores are the OG of these school list fulfilment services. If you have a good one in your area, bring your list in and ask if they perform this service. They will do the ordering and assembling and you can just pick it up from them. School Books – Apart from the normal pens and notebooks, some school lists include books you have to order for the upcoming year. Here are some suggestions to help find those books: Ask the parents association or your school’s parent network if parents are selling or giving away their child’s old school books. Local librairies or French bookstores are a good source for books and even school supplies. Our members have used: Gibert is a well known bookstore for school books. They sell both new and used books.( https://www.gibert.com/ ) Librairie Lamartine -a well known bookstore and papeterie with locations in the 16th and Neuilly-sur-Seine ( https://www.lamartine.fr/ ). They have a great selection of pens (I'm looking at you Legami!),agendas and stationary so consider yourself forewarned about all the goodies! You can also send them your school supply list or book list by email: commande@lamartine.fr Librairie Decitre- the online store carries (lots!) more books but you can browse their brick and mortar for school supplies. https://www.decitre.fr/ Labels – putting your kids’ names in everything they bring to school will become a typical start to the rentrée (trust us!!). You can of course, write their names with markers or if you prefer to use sticker labels. Our members suggest the following: o https://www.ludilabel.fr/ o https://www.a-qui-s.fr/ o https://www.c-monetiquette.fr/ Sports Equipment and Outfits – The rentrée is a good time to secure all the sports outfits and equipment for the kids. Many stores will have all the judo kimonos, football shirts and shorts and required dance outfits that your child may need. It may get progressively harder to find these once all the kids are back. Decathalon is a great sports store that sell both outfits and equipment. They are affordable and complete in their product offering. www.decathalon.fr Maternelle – A special shout out for parents starting maternelle ( or pre-school) – here are some recommendations: Chaussons – These are slippers or soft shoes that the kids can easily slip on and off before they go into the classroom. Most kids shoe stores have them but you can also use Crocs (need we say more?) or the Decathlon chausson which have easy rubber soles and Velcro straps. Doudous – These are your child’s comforters (e.g. stuffed animals). Most maternelles allow you to bring one to help them for their naps. However if your little one can deal with it, bring a secondary doudou rather than their main one. Navigo – If your child uses public transport to get to school you may want to consider getting the Imagine R Scolaire or Junior Navigo to save money and make it easier during the school year ( https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/titres-et-tarifs/liste ) . Once your child has their navigo, consider purchasing a cute lanyard to keep that card safe! Now that school books and supplies are out of the way, its time to turn our attention to Health Checkups. The rentrée is the perfect time to get the kids checked out from head to foot. Here are a few things to consider: Certficat Médicale - Make an appointment with your general practitioner or pediatrician for a general check up. During this appointment, you can also ask the doctor for the Certificate of Health which schools and most after school sports programs ask for when you sign the kids up. This saves you having to make another appointment to secure the certificate later on. Vaccinations – Schools in France require a number of vaccinations for children to go to school. To check if you are up to date on your child’s vaccine, here is the complete list ( https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F767?lang=en ) Eye and Dental Check-up – An eyesight problem could make it tough for children to do well in school so now is the great time to check on your child’s eyes. Additionally, after a summer of sweet treats, a dental check-up can be in order. To make it easier to get those appointments, use Doctolib ( https://www.doctolib.fr/ ) and for doctor recommendations you can also have a look at Message member recommendations on our Message Medical Directory. Special Education Needs Appointments – If you were informed to get your child evaluated or obtain support, now is the time to consider getting those appointments with those specialists before they fill up. To find English speaking specialists, take a look at the SPRINT website for recommendations on child pcyhologists, orthophonists or learning specialists. ( https://www.sprintfrance.org/ ) The rentrée can be a stressful time for all so we hope that some of these tips are helpful! Here's wishing everyone a great back to school! Written by Meg Gerner and Imelda The

The Seine with the Hotel de Ville in the background This summer, the whole city is abuzz with the opening of 3 designated swimming areas in the river. After last summer’s Olympic events on the Seine, we can now all enjoy a cooling dip into the river.   As it turns out, bathing in the Seine isn’t new.  As early as the 17th century, men (without swim costumes to boot!) have been swimming in the Seine while the ladies rested demurely on the shore.  Later on, to equalize the situation, floating pools that rested on boats were built with separate bathing areas for men and women.  We can see from this painting that the ladies had quite a view of the 2 churches from their bathing boats! Bathing boats along the Quai de Conti with a view of the Notre Dame and the Sainte Chapelle -1661 As the city continued to grow and take on its escargot  shape, the banks of the river which could be accessed from the gardens of the Tuileries, continued to be a place where nobles went to see and be seen. The 18th century saw a great increase in industrialization and the creation of the quais which further split the city.  Through all these developments, the pollution levels of the Seine continued to rise, notably after the immense and catastrophic fire that destroyed the Hopital de L’Hotel Dieu in 1772. L'incendie de l'Hotel Dieu 1772 - Musee Carnavalet But this wasn’t enough to stop people (and their pets!). from continuing to enjoy their river.    Tableau de Paris, numéro 55 : la pleine eau", 1821. Gravure de Marlet. Paris, Musée Carnavalet. The  Deligny  pool, with water taken directly from the Seine was built in 1875  and it  became the place to be, thanks to the teacher (from whom the name was taken) who founded a swim school there.  From Charles X to Louis Phillippe, to the swim athletes of the 1900 Olympic Games to Alain Juppe in the 1980s, it seems that le tout Paris was at some point, seen sunning themselves and hanging out, at the Piscine Deligny.   Sadly, its more than 200 years of existence ended in just 40 mins when the pool sank in 1993. The famous piscine Deligny with the Seine pool water. 1924 But back to the Seine,  it wasn’t until 1923 that a formal prohibition to swim in the Seine was finally announced by the Prefecture de Police due to the extremely high levels of chemical and industrial pollution.  The quais were then given over to automobile use.  However, as you can see from the following, the prohibition didn’t stop the Parisians from making use of their river.  After all, Parisians don’t easily give up their habits. Cooling off in 1933 Even dogs took a turn! Dog washing in 1933 Towards the end of the 20th century, there was an increase in interest in cleaning up the Seine. In 1988, Jacques Chirac famously said he would swim in the Seine. But this plan ended up in the back burner.  It wasn't until 2002 that the clean up efforts became more concrete. The city launched Paris Respire  ( Paris Breathe), a program where every weekend the quais along the Seine were formally closed to automobile traffic in order to reduce pollution.  It was also this year that saw the launch of the Paris Plages (Paris Beaches).     The name Paris Plage  has its origins in the train line that linked the capital to the coast.  In its' modern incarnation as envisioned by the city, Paris Plage  was designed to give the Parisians who stayed in the city a place where they could walk and cycle along the Seine all  throughout the summer.  The goal? To have a summer break at the heart of the city if you couldn’t leave for your  vacation.   As the project evolved, the idea of bringing the sea to the city became the defining characteristic of the Paris Plages .  Kids reading nook at the Paris Plage Sand was brought in, palm trees transplanted, pop-up beach clubs set up, water misters to combat the heat and parasols mushroomed through 3.5 kilometers along the quai . And of course, summer programs, concerts and events became indispensable to the cool  vibe of the city.  Everyone from the Orchestre de Paris to Vianney to Anna Torres this year, has been on the Paris Plages  stage.  One year, the city even hosted a screening of Le Grand Bain on the water.   As the city continued to experience intense heat waves, Paris Plages  became a way to cool off literally and figuratively. It was only a matter of time then, that the focus turned on taking back the Seine for the swimmers.  The Olympic Games of 2024 was the final push needed to rally behind the cause.  As part of the host application, the city pledged to put a more concerted effort of cleaning the river with the goal of having the athletes of the Triathlon, Marathon and the Paratriathlon swim in the Seine.  It was a gargantuan effort necessitating a budget of 1.4 billion euros and the work of several government agencies.   In addition to actively cleaning the Seine, the city constructed a new  and enormous water reservoir to capture rain water that would be cleaned in the water treatment stations before being released back into the river. More than the Olympic games however, the overarching goal was and remains, the restoration and revitalization of the whole river system.  Concretely, this meant putting systems in place that would treat all the chemical and biological wastes and discharge from homes and businesses.  So far, the ongoing clean up, which began in the 2000s, has enabled more fish species to live in the river.  From a measly 4 in the 70s, there are now more than 30 species living in the Seine.  Just don’t ask if they are fit for consumption! By July 2024, just before the start of the Olympics, the city carried out tests to determine water safety levels and fortunately, the water was deemed clean enough to swim!  Even Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a celebratory dip in the Seine!  Fast forward to summer 2025 and the city has unveiled 3 newly designated swim areas in the Seine which will be open from  July 5 to August 31, 2025.   Hot tip of the summer : the view from one of the pools is the new “secret” best view of the Eiffel.  Just ask all the influencers.. Where are the new spots, you ask? They are .. Baignade bras Marie 75004 - at the foot of the Pont de Sully facing Ile Saint Louis Baignade Bercy, 75012 - at the foot of the Simone de Beauvoir  foot bridge opposite the Bibliotheque Nationale de France  Baignade Grenelle, 75007 between the Port de Grenelle and Ile aux Cygnes with a view of La Dame en Fer. Lifeguards at the swimming area. Thank you to Allison Isambert for sharing her photos of the Bras Marie pool. So while its true that the city empties out during the annual grandes vacances,  there’s no shortage of fun activities to check out.  Whether it’s a brunch and swim at the Canal St. Martin,  dancing Samba or catching a Brazilian film on the barges of the Seine, there’s something for everyone! Available lockers to store your things as you swim. Photo credit: Allison Isambert. Practical details: To find out if the swim areas are open to the public, consult this link: https://www.paris.fr/paris-en-seine-2025 For Frequently Asked Questions, click on this link: https://www.paris.fr/pages/baignade-en-seine-toutes-les-questions-que-vous-vous-posez-31533

Message has a very special place in my heart. I joined Message when I was pregnant with my first son—over 18 years ago. It became an invaluable lifeline, a source of vital information, and more than anything, a much-needed community for someone living far from family and friends back home in Australia. Through Message, I connected with people from all over the world and formed lasting friendships—many of which are still going strong today. I honestly don’t know how I would have navigated those early, often challenging, years of parenthood without the support I found in this community. Now, all these years later, my son is heading off to university in Spain this September. In a beautiful full-circle moment, he’ll be attending the same school as a young woman we first met at a Message baby music class. Today, I volunteer with  Serve the City Paris , an NGO that’s part of a global movement serving urban populations in need. In Paris, we organize food distributions and soup kitchens for the homeless, language exchanges for asylum seekers and volunteers, and even run a football team for unaccompanied refugee minors. We also offer workshops for volunteers and CSR events for corporate partners. When I took on the role of Marketing Director, I knew I wanted to find a way to reconnect with Message—and here we are: the first of what I hope will be many collaborations.   We at Serve the City are truly honored to be the beneficiaries of your special fundraising walk at the Parc de Saint-Cloud. Thank you for welcoming me—and Serve the City—into your community once again. Join Message on June 29th for our charity walkathon at Parc de Saint-Cloud and help us serve Paris's homeless community Sign up for the Walk-a-Thon for Serve the City > Sign up for the After Picnic > Can't make the walk but would like to donate? Donate Here > Walk with us for Serve the City Paris—because community changes lives

Christine Siler, Menopause Policy Advocate Looking back now, I wasn’t just embarrassed. I was scared. I didn’t recognize myself, and I didn’t know how to ask for help. It took months of research - books, blogs, Substacks, medical papers, online forums - and more than a few tearful nights before I started to connect the dots between the symptoms  I was experiencing in my whole body and mind, and perimenopause. Eventually, I found the right care. But I had to fight  for it. And I know I’m one of the lucky ones. I had time, resources, and relentless curiosity. Not everyone does. That’s why I’m now working to change the way menopause is talked about, taught, and treated, especially in France, where navigating healthcare as an expat can already feel overwhelming. I want better medical training, better research funding, and better support for the millions of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause without answers. June 4: The M Factor Paris Screening & Panel Discussion If you’ve ever searched online for information about menopause symptoms, you know how confusing and contradictory it can be. Between the science, the influencers, and the 18 billion dollar “menopause market,” it’s hard to know what’s credible. That’s why I’m hosting the first public screening in France of The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause  on June 4, 2025 at Luminor Cinema in the Marais. The film offers evidence-based insight into the true impact of menopause on women’s lives. It’s informative, empowering, and yes, a little controversial. Critics have noted that some of the expert contributors have industry ties and that the film occasionally stretches the conclusions it draws from limited data. But to me, that’s exactly why we need to talk about it. After the screening, we’ll host a Q&A panel with practicing doctors who will weigh in on the film’s claims, share their clinical experience, and offer guidance for women navigating this phase. Why This Event Matters for Expat Women Living Abroad If you’re dealing with culture shock, navigating the complexities of your adopted nation’s social security scheme, juggling multiple languages, careers, and a sense of identity in a foreign country, perimenopause can feel like one more unpredictable curveball. It can impact our moods, our energy, our sleep, our relationships - and our ability to parent and live in the way we want to. And often, we don’t even realize it’s happening. But when we’re informed, we’re empowered. And when we connect with others, we have space to heal. That’s why, after the panel, we’re hosting a networking reception. This is a chance to meet other women, share stories, and continue the conversation. Whether you’re navigating this phase yourself or supporting someone who is, you’re welcome. Whether you’re just beginning to notice subtle changes or deep in the trenches of hormone upheaval, this event is for you. Menopause isn’t something we should just tolerate. It’s a major transition that deserves real information, real support, and real community. My Story For me, the breaking point came not in a doctor’s office, but over dinner. I was out with friends at a chic restaurant in Paris 7ème when I suddenly noticed a deep red stain on the white silk-covered bench beneath me. Blood. Through my jeans. In that moment, I was no longer a confident, accomplished woman in my fifties, I was 14 again. Humiliated. Confused. I’d been dealing with a cascade of symptoms such as joint pain, UTIs, memory lapses, mood swings, joint aches, tinnitus, and dry vagina. But no one had ever brought up menopause. Not me. And certainly not any of the five doctors I’d seen. I blamed it on stress. On expat life. On anything but what it actually was. That dinner changed everything. Now , I’m working to change things for others. Please join us on June 4 for an evening of clarity, connection, and empowerment. Let’s start talking. And let’s make sure no woman is left to navigate this alone. Details:  Wednesday June 4, 2025 19h-21.30h (7-9.30pm) Luminor Cinema 20 Rue du Temple, Paris 75004  Tickets – 25€  (plus ticketing fee)   Buy your ticket here https://www.messageparis.org/event-details/the-m-factor-in-paris-1   Book your ticket now, seats are limited. Be part of the conversation. I really look forward to seeing you there.   Christine Siler Menopause Policy Advocate Christinesiler.com Bio Information: Christine Siler is a Paris-based Menopause Policy Advocate. She works with menopause experts and associations to help streamline the processes for updating and activating new guidelines, change regulations, maximize public awareness, and achieve minimum training standards for the medical community.

Our annual Easter egg hunt was a wonderful success this year with over 50 families joining us for a morning of fun and excitement. We organized the children into two age groups - the "Bunnies" (ages 0-5) and the "Hoppers" (ages 6+) - to ensure everyone had a fair chance at finding eggs appropriate for their age. The hunt began promptly at 10:45am, with eager children lined up at the starting line, baskets in hand and excitement bubbling over. When the Easter Bunny said "Go!", they scattered across their designated areas, searching behind trees, under bushes, and around the grounds for colorful chocolate eggs and bonbons. A highlight of the day was our special guest – the Easter Bunny! Families lined up for the opportunity to take photos with the fluffy visitor, who patiently posed with children of all ages. Several little ones were so excited to meet the Easter Bunny and only a few were scared of their new friend. Our team of dedicated volunteers deserves special recognition for making the event run so smoothly this year. Those who planned the event, pre-purchased eggs and arrived early to hide over the bounty of chocolate eggs in the park. They helped direct families to the correct areas and assisted younger children who needed a little extra help spotting eggs. At the start of the event, every child received a chocolate egg to ensure that everyone left with a little treat. The planning team and our group of volunteer's thoughtful enthusiasm and organization were key to this year's Egg Hunt success! After the hunt concluded, families spread blankets across the park for picnics. The beautiful spring weather provided the perfect backdrop as parents chatted while children compared their treasures and played together. This community tradition continues to bring neighbors together each spring, creating memories that will last throughout the year. We look forward to seeing everyone next year for what has become one of our most treasured community events! Mark your calendars and bring your baskets – the Easter Bunny has already promised to return! Special thanks to our volunteers! See you next year!

Ways you can Contribute to the Blog: Suggest Topics You Want to Read About : Please take a moment to fill out this quick FORM. Or click on the Suggestion Box image. Share Your Ideas by Writing for the Blog:  Do you want to write an article or two for the Message blog? Contribution Guidelines. Please contact vpinfotech@messageparis.org Join our team! Innovative Ideas: We will delve into relevant topics, share useful resources and interview interesting locals for English-speaking parents in and around Paris. Collaborative Spirit: We value teamwork and creativity. Do you want to collaborate with others to create engaging content, help plan and/or do the technical side of things? If yes, and you're excited about the prospect of joining our blog team and contributing your unique skill set and ideas to our platform, we'd love to hear from you! Together, we will create engaging content that informs, inspires, and delights our readers. Send an email to vpinfotech@messageparis.org Thanks!

Message Paris has been supporting the English-speaking community for 38 years! The Message magazine is a much loved and appreciated benefit to being a member. Our volunteers work hard at providing a publication that members will keep thanks to the quality of the articles and resources. Our magazine is mailed to our members, currently 900 English-speaking families, in the Paris area. It is also given out at public events. Are you interested in advertising in our wonderful, local magazine? Scroll down to see the most recent magazine. Here are more reasons to take out an ad with Message: Greater Impact: Our magazine is printed in full color on recycled, glossy paper, in A5 format - the perfect size to slip into a bag or backpack. With engaging content, information and resources for the whole family, this is a magazine our readers hold onto, and enjoy re-reading. Reach Your Ideal Audience: This is a rare opportunity for advertisers in France to share their services, schools and businesses in a print magazine that is also available for the English-speaking public to read online. Competitive Pricing: We keep our advertising rates highly affordable because we believe that supporting local businesses strengthens our entire community. See prices and size examples below. If you advertise in 4 issues (one calendar year’s worth of magazines), you will receive a 10% discount. Be a part of our community by taking out an advertisement in our magazine. If you have any questions, please contact ads@messageparis.org Thanks very much, The Message Magazine Team This is made accessible to members and non-members alike, on our public website pages. It is also archived on the Message Members' website for members to read anytime.

Written by Nicole Rowan I interviewed Tracy (Tess) Pattison from The Inspired Body for over an hour. We talked about so many topics and her wisdom is so vast that I had to omit quite a lot for length. Tess is a warm, open-hearted and compassionate woman who I liked immediately. She is judgment-free and is a genuine helper from her core (no pun intended). She has the education, training and experience to back it up, so you know you’re getting solid advice. It was enjoyable speaking with her and I hope many of you can attend this very special upcoming event she has put together for the English-speaking community in Paris, plus there is a discount for Message members! Tess intentionally worked towards becoming an expert in training the pelvic floor and other female-specific health issues that, she observed in her Pilates clients, seemed to flair up at certain life stages. Stress, incontinence, carpel tunnel syndrome, vertigo, low back pain, hip bursitis - to name a few - were a collection of symptoms that she realized she needed to understand more. As she was learning everything she could about how to help these issues, she became an expert in using movement to help manage the symptoms mentioned above. Beyond her own copious amounts of research and teaching, Tess took continuing education on pelvic floor awareness and Menopause Awareness for movement teachers. From there, Tess expanded her knowledge and while movement and massage are her focus, Tess provides bespoke lifestyle suggestions (not medical advice) that include diet, stress management, sleep hygiene and breathing techniques. These important topics are brought together at the upcoming retreat on June 1st, 2024. Tess adores The Parc de Saint-Cloud and believes it to be the ideal place to hold an event to bring a group of women together to Show Up Ready to Have Fun and Learn Something. What if I am not very flexible or have never done anything like this before? If you have any barriers, physical issues or concerns please reach out to her. You can try as much or as little, or even just watch the class, you will still get a lot of information. Having worked with performers with physical and mental disabilities, Tess is sensitive to diverse abilities. In her classes, she gives modifications for everyone making it entirely accessible. What is Pilates? "Pilates is just functional movement for human beings." Tess Why is your company called The Inspired Body? "I call my company the inspired body. It's not The Corrected body. It's not buns of Steel Body. It's about inspiring the physical body to feel great whatever that looks like." Tess What does Tess want participants to come away with after attending? "It's not as difficult and it doesn't take as much time as I thought. I can fit this I can actually fit this into my life. I feel like these are changes that I can do right now." Tess Get more details, Q & A and Register for the Women's Health Day Retreat HERE. Message Members: Enter TESS4MESSAGE at checkout What does the schedule look like? Welcome Peri-Menopause Awareness Talk One-hour Movement (Experiential Pelvic Floor Focus) Lunch Nutrition and Health Coach, Emily Buchanan Q & A Walk through the forest Guided Meditation Socializing (Optional) If you are not able to attend this event, Tess offers content on these areas on her website with recorded meditations, recipes, and current research on women’s health issues. If the event is sold out, sign onto Tess' e-mail list so you can be the first to know about the next kind of day retreat she will do. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.