Navigating a historical site with a young child can be an adventure in itself, but when you add the vibrant energy of a six-year-old with ADHD, “sightseeing” takes on a whole new meaning. My family recently visited Pompeii, and what could have been an overwhelming experience became one of our most memorable family trips, all thanks to a little creative planning.
I’ve been to Pompeii twice before—once alone, then again with my mum—and this time was completely different. We chose a specific entrance at the amphitheater, near where we knew we would park, which saved a lot of hassle and tired feet. Right away, we found a fascinating temporary exhibit on women in ancient Rome. It was a highlight for me, covering the lives of wealthy upper-class women and showcasing their beautiful jewellery, intricate makeup tools, and various household items. It was a perfect way to start our day, seeing a more intimate side of the city’s history before we even entered the main ruins.
Unlike my past, pre-kid trips where I’d attempt to see every last detail, this time the mission was to make the experience fun and engaging for everyone. My husband and I knew we couldn’t see everything, and we were okay with that. The goal was quality over quantity, and our first secret weapon was a bespoke scavenger hunt. I created a laminated list of specific sights to find—including the famous mosaic of the dog, a personal highlight—and my daughter wore it around her neck with a dry-erase marker. This turned a passive walk into an interactive quest and kept her attention from start to finish.
Our second secret weapon was technology. We downloaded the official Pompeii app, which turned out to be a game-changer. The app features an audio guide tailored for both adults and children, which meant my husband and I could get the rich historical context while our daughter listened to captivating, child-friendly explanations.
You can download Pompeii apps from app stores; the official app, MyPompeii, is available on the Google Play and the Apple App Store.
We ventured out into the vast, sun-drenched city. The heat was intense, and the mission was to find and “tick off” the items on my daughter’s list. She was totally fascinated by the plaster casts of the victims, which was a pretty bittersweet moment. She really understood what had happened to them and was so genuinely sad for them.
Another highlight for her was the thermopolium, the ancient equivalent of an open-air bar. We found a few of these, and she spent time “serving” sand and dirt from the clay pots sunk into the bar, her imagination bringing the ancient ruins to life.
Pompeii’s open spaces offer little shade, so we planned our route with frequent breaks in the few shaded patches we could find, sitting on a low wall or under a small awning to eat and rehydrate from the backpack full of snacks and a packed lunch. These moments of rest were just as important as the moments of discovery.
In the lead-up to our trip, this video was on a loop in our house. It’s very catchy, and it helped my daughter understand what happened to the city. We have burst into song once or twice as we walked around the site…
To wrap up the day, we headed into the official on-site museum. Honestly, it was worth it just for the glorious air conditioning after hours in the blazing sun, but it was also a great way to wind down. My daughter took over as official photographer, using her treasure hunt list to find artifacts and snapping dozens of photos.
Look, we didn’t see every single villa or temple, and that’s completely fine. We did Pompeii on our own terms, and it made the trip meaningful for us instead of stressful. My daughter will remember the thrill of her scavenger hunt, and we’ll remember the laughter and the stories that made those old stones come alive. (And yes, we will definitely be returning to see the parts we missed—maybe in a year, or ten!). It was a perfect blend of history, family, and a little bit of creative problem-solving. For more from our trip, be sure to check out my other post on our visit to Herculaneum!
Over to you: Have you ever braved a massive historical site with kids in tow? What is your ultimate secret weapon for keeping them engaged? (And if you’ve been to Pompeii, I’d love to hear what your favorite part was!) Let’s swap survival stories in the comments.
