Paris+Life

=//Paris Life//=

What was a Paris life for children like, during the 18th century (period of revolution)?
Families in the 18th century were large, extended families. Grandparents, their children and grandchildren lived altogether. Usually families had the average of five or more children in one household. Children were considered important assets for French people, for they are the ones who took care of their parents when they grew old.

Children were treated like miniature adults. They dressed like one, and were told to act like one. Paintings of children during this time period, often conveys a child as an adult.Children married young, and were engaged to others. Children were apprenticed to tradesman to learn about trade, or told to do profession.

**Lower class children** Education did not rank very high on the agenda of the poor, especially since they were needed to help with the family business. Low class folks needed many children, in order to have more helping hands on family business. However with such a large family, feeding every mouth was often an impossible task for the poor. Therefore young children were frequently left to fend for themselves, which led to picking pockets and stealing food. The punishment for these children was cruel such as cutting off fingers. Low class children and upper class children were perfect targets for abuse and were easily treated like animals as soon as they were away from safety and exposed to danger.

**Upper class children** Upper class children always obtained privilege and priority in many aspects. Sons of high noble families, were often sent into the upper clergy, or as an officer into the military. (In the military, higher ranking officer positions were preserved for the upper nobility). Young men who found it an honor to serve the king were given high positions in king's civil service, for it was also reserved for the upper nobility. Upper class children were also given the advantage of receiving education, and allowed to enroll to college or university. Girls finished their education, for they needed to learn to be a proper women when they grew up.

**What did children do during playtime?** Much like children of today, French children during the 18th century, also liked to play. Children from affluent families would go to the Palais Royal (commercial complex), to buy from vendors and stalls. They have the opportunity to listen to musicians, and of course watch puppet shows. Magic Lantern show was an especially popular entertainment amongst adults and children. Wax museums were also very popular, and lines would be long just to see waxen images of the well-known.

Toys were considered luxury in the 18th century, and to possess them would cost a large sum. Therefore, many toys were homespun. Often times, it was up to the children's creativity to make toys such as paper dolls and slingshots. Doll houses and poupée de mode would sometimes be possessed by daughters of wealthy families. Games such as "follow my leader" were favorites. Lower class children would run through the streets, using Paris as their personal playground. Watchmen often chased out naughty children from markets. Toy soldiers were also played with. Marie Antoinette's son, Louis-Charles played with a collection of toy soldiers.

** Citations for texts **
Brainard, Rick. "18th Century Family Life." //18th Century History - The Age of Reason and Change//. History1700s, 2005. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. .

Lambert, Time. "A History of Children." //A World History Encyclopedia//. Localhistories Organization, 2008. Web. 01 Dec. 2011..

Brown, Leah Marie. "18th Century Children." //Titillating Tidbits About the Life and Times of Marie Antoinette//. Blogger, 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. .

** Citations for images **
"18th Century Love, Louis Charles of France by Alexander Kucharsky,..." //18th Century Love//. 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. . >>>>Louis XVII

"French School, 18th Century | The Children of a Noble Family Playing in an Elegant Park Attended by a Page, a Pug in the Foreground | Old Master Drawings Auction | Drawings & Watercolors, Body Colour / Gouache | Christie's."//Christie's: Fine Art Auctions and Private Sales for Contemporary, Modern, Old Master Paintings, Jewelry, Watches, Wine, Furniture & More//. Christie's, 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. . >>>>French school

Brown, Leah Marie. "18th Century Children." //Titillating Tidbits About the Life and Times of Marie Antoinette//. Blogger, 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. . >>>>Magic Lantern

Mean, This I. "Fabrics-Store.com Chronicle." //Buy Nolvadex Online. Tamoxifen Without Prescription.// Fabricstore, 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. . >>>>1700s children image