Moscow is full of things to do with children and teenagers. Try the ZOO, the 3 CIRCUSES, take one of the many BOAT EXCURSIONS on the Moskva river. Visit the PLANETARIUM.
Museums. The Armed Forces Museum is a favorite of children fond of climbing over tanks and real military equipment and looking at the rich collection of toy soilders arms and armor. Politechnical Museum has 20,000 exhibits from dinosaurs to working mining models. Vernadskiy Geological Museum has a great collection of minerals & gems. Take a boat down the Moskva to Kolomenskoe Open-Air Architecture Museum and have a picnic lunch. Hike in the Lesoparks (Forest Parks); see PARKS. Look at puppets in the Children’s Museum Theater.
Sports. Watch world-class football, basketball, volleyball practice or visit sports events at local STADIUMS. Go BICYCLING, play TENNIS, BILLIARDS, BOWLING, SKATING, SWIMMING, and HORSEBACK RIDING.
Concerts and Theaters. For young children try the Children’s Musical Durov Animal Theater and the 3 puppet theaters. Older children enjoy THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES, CONCERT HALLS & CLASSICAL CONCERT VENUES, JAZZ, and rock concerts (held in STADIUMS), schedules are in local newspapers.
Parks and Amusements. The Parks of Culture and Recreation, called "TsPKiO" have mini-amusement parks (Attraktsiony) with rides for children; some have row boats, pony rides, playgrounds, band shells with music, and plenty of room to walk, run, and play, see PARKS.
Almost every apartment complex or small park has a playground, many quite imaginative, but in recent years the equipment may have been neglected and less attention paid to safety standards. So check the equipment first and then let your children loose.
Children's Cafes. See below.
Libraries and Books. Children's LIBRARIES are found in each district where books in English can sometimes be found. Also look in a children's bookstore, or in the children's and foreign language sections of a large bookstore for English books. Books in Russian are plentiful but have become expensive.
Toys and Clothing. Moscow has CHILDREN'S STORES which carry a full range of "goods for children", such as toys, clothing, furniture, nursery needs, bikes & supplies. The once prominent Detskiy Mir, (Children’s World), the flagship of the chain by the same name, has faded under commercial pressure to lease out space to money-making ventures. Small Russian metal trucks and cars, available in kiosks and toy stores are my favorites. Toys, both Russian and Western, can be found everywhere now. Barbie dolls and Lego now have whole stores devoted to them. See TOY AND GAMES.
Sports Clubs. Joining a SPORTS FOR AMATEURS (INFO, CLUBS, PLACES) might be good for long term foreign residents or for participating in chess, rowing, bicycling or skating.
Indoors During Winter. Try SWIMMING, TENNIS and BOWLING or outdoor SKATING, DACHA RENTALS.
Schooling. The American School is just one of the many international schools in Moscow offering approved curriculum from K-1 to 10th grade. There are also several playgroups. See SCHOOLS, PUBLIC & PRIVATE and CHILD CARE & NANNIES.
Learn Russian: There are special language courses for children.
Infants: Baby food, disposable diapers, cribs, strollers, and good medical care are widely available. Look in CHILDREN'S STORES, PHARMACIES, FURNITURE STORES or even rent equipment if needed. See RENTALS (Furniture, bicycles, TV's, etc.). Western baby products are easy to find, but be sure to bring along any special medicines. See also BABY ACCESSORIES & NURSERY SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, CHILDREN'S, MEDICAL CARE, TOY AND GAMES and SCHOOLS, PUBLIC & PRIVATE.
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