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You are here: Home Leisure Arts & Culture Child's play: Where to take the kids in Madrid and...

27/09/2006Child's play: Where to take the kids in Madrid and Barcelona

Entertaining children in Spain has its challenges but overall this is a country where the little ones have a ball, reports Sarah Morris.

Little devils: Children visiting Barcelona's Sagrada Familia

Parents visiting Spain with young children often run into one common problem: when little Billy is hungry, the local restaurants haven't even set the tables.

With Spaniards usually lunching from 2pm or later and having dinner at anywhere between 9-11pm, restaurant opening hours can make the country seem anything other than child-friendly.

Once inside a Spanish bar or restaurant, however, it's a different story.

In his book Ghosts of Spain British writer Giles Tremlett contrasts the treatment children receive here compared to the reception they get in his native Britain where some pubs are off-limits to youngsters.

"Whereas small children turn British parents into social lepers, they elevate Spanish parents into privileged human beings," he writes.

"Rather than be shown the door or taken off to a 'families only' quarantine zone, you find the waiters' attention and efforts doubling. There will be crayons, colouring books and delicacies for the kids.

"And when your child karate-chops his glass of mosto, sweet grape juice, onto the tiled floor, the waiter appears not just with a mop, but with a smile and a new, full glass."

If your children are already bringing their Spanish playmates home, you may be tiring of what Tremlett describes as Spain's 'spoilt star-turn – the child', the 'imperious little princes and princesses of the, now typical, one or two child Spanish family'.

However, the Spanish over-indulgence towards children has one distinct advantage – your (of course, beautifully well-behaved children) can have a ball.

Most Spanish cities, towns and villages run regular children's events and festivals.

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