The Child‐OIDP index is an indicator of oral health‐related quality of life, which has been validated among 12‐yr‐old children in Thailand. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability, validity, and applicability of this questionnaire among French children. After translation and cultural adaptation, the Child‐OIDP was tested on 414 10‐yr‐old children in France. The children completed the Child‐OIDP in face‐to‐face interviews, were clinically examined, and answered questions evaluating their global self‐rated oral health. Parents filled in a questionnaire concerning their socio‐demographic background. An oral impact on daily life was reported by 73% of the children. The mean Child‐OIDP score was 6.32 [standard deviation (SD) 8.22] and the median was 3.33. The internal reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.57. The retest procedure ( n = 62) showed a satisfactory reproducibility ( r = 0.81, κ = 0.75). The index was shown to be a valid instrument. Construct validity was satisfactory as the Child‐OIDP score increased when the children's perceived oral health decreased. The Child‐OIDP score was able to discriminate between different socio‐demographic groupings and varied according to dental status. This study showed that the Child‐OIDP is applicable for use among children in France. It has promising psychometric properties but further research is required to evaluate its sensitivity to change.