Exposure: Immersion is the most beneficial and best way to learn. Surrounding children with French speakers, whether through family members, friends, or immersion programmes, provides constant exposure to the language.

Social interaction: Language acquisition is not about memorising words and grammar rules; it’s also about understanding and engaging with others in meaningful communication.

Interactive Learning: Children learn best through active participation and engagement. Incorporating games, songs, stories, and other interactive activities into their learning experience make the process enjoyable and effective.

Multisensory Approach: Engaging multiple senses in the learning process can enhance retention. Using visual aids, gestures, and tactile materials alongside spoken and written language reinforces comprehension and memory.

Consistency: Regular exposure to the language is crucial. Consistent practice, even in small doses, helps reinforce learning and build fluency over time.

Contextual Learning: Connecting language learning to real experiences helps children understand the practical use of French.

Critical thinking skills: This is fundamental to foster this for effective learning in various domains, including language acquisition.

Patience and Support: Every child learns at their own pace. Providing a supportive environment where they feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them is essential.

Age-Appropriate Materials: Age-appropriate educational activities tailored to children’s interests ensures their engagement and enjoyment while learning French.

In our immersive holiday clubs and in our immersive weekly sessions by focusing on these elements and fostering a positive and supportive learning environment, children develop a strong foundation when they are beginners, further develop their skills as they progress, and enhance their fluency, becoming bilingual.

The post What children’s brains need most to learn a language! first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

Alors on y va ! Here is a selection for visiting and enjoying Paris with young children.

Aller au Marché (Visit the Market): Going to a market is a sensory and sociable experience! It’s noisy, filled with delightful smells, and offers opportunities to taste various foods. Markets are scattered throughout the city, but always check their opening days and times.

• Marché des Enfants Rouges: the oldest covered market in Paris

• Marché Raspail: an organic market featuring fresh produce, cheeses, and artisanal products. It’s a great place for families to experience the vibrant local market scene.

Aller au Musée (Visit Museum):

• Le Musée en Herbe: Immerse your little ones in the world of art at Le Musée en Herbe. This interactive museum is specially designed for children, making art exploration a playful and educational experience.
• Cité des Sciences: Spark curiosity and imagination at the Cité des Sciences, a science museum with hands-on exhibits, workshops, and interactive displays near Le Parc de La Villette.
• Little Villette: Enjoy shows and workshops for babys and children of all ages.
• Le Musée du Moyen-Age/Musée de Cluny: Perfect for learning about the Middle Ages with workshops, animations, and cool discoveries.
• Le Musée du Chocolat: Children can learn about the history of chocolate, enjoy tasting and even participate in workshops.
• La maison des histoires The House of Stories is open to all curious minds. Inspired by Scandinavian literary museums, it is an immersive exhibition, “reading-performances,” and a coffee corner. A place where,the book comes to life.
• For more family-friendly museums, check here.

Se Promener (Stroll):

• Le Jardin du Luxembourg: One of the city’s finest parks with pony rides, a large adventure playground, a sandpit, and a beautiful traditional puppet theatre Guignol.
• Jardin des Tuileries: There’s a playground, a carousel, and wide-open spaces for kids to play.
• Montmartre: Explore this stunning neighbourhood, it is like a village !
• Bois de Vincennes: A short Metro ride away, offering a 14th-century castle, a treetop adventure park, botanical gardens, and a children’s playground.
• Eiffel Tower & the Champs de Mars: you can’t miss this and you will enjoy great views.
• Walk on the Banks of the Seine or Take a Seine River Cruise: Experience Paris from a boat, catching glimpses of famous landmarks.
• Paris Plages: If visiting during the summer, don’t miss Paris Plages, a temporary artificial beach along the Seine with activities for children.

And of course, Manger (Eat): You cannot visit France without tasting the cuisine. Look for authentic little cafes, crêperies, and restaurants suitable for children.

For family-friendly options, check here, and for iconic cafes and restaurants, click here.

Don’t miss the Behind the Scenes Bakery Tour with Breakfast.

Last but not least:

• Always check if you need to book tickets for visits, shows, or workshops.
• Learn or revise our PARIS PARIS song MP3s of our songs on our website
• Give children plenty of opportunities to practise their French without pressure.
• And last but not least, just before taking the Eurostar go to CARTON a great boulangerie opposite the Gare du Nord at 6 Boulevard de Denain, 75010 Paris, to bring back amazing bread and croissants!

I guess some of you are wondering why I did not include going to Disneyland. Well it isn’t in Paris anyway, there is nothing French or Parisian about it and I am not sure Mickey Mouse and its friends speak French !

I hope this guide is useful and inspires you to have fun in Paris. We would love to hear from you when you do. Tell us about your experience, your tips, and we want to see some photos.

A BIENTOT !

Bisous aux enfants

Stella

The post A little guide to explore Paris with children first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

I would like to share with you some of the key reasons, it is essential to learn a language during the early years!

The brain’s plasticity during childhood provides a unique opportunity for acquiring language skills more easily and there is significant research supporting the many benefits of second language acquisition. This is a critical period as the brain is more plastic and adaptable. After a certain age, the brain becomes less flexible, and language acquisition becomes more challenging.

The brain Learning languages early in life has been associated with changes in brain structure and function. Bilingual individuals, for example, may have more developed areas of the brain related to language processing and cognitive control.

Cognitive development Learning a language early on contributes to cognitive development. It enhances memory, problem-solving skills, and overall cognitive abilities. Children exposed to multiple languages often develop better executive functions and demonstrate enhanced creativity and flexibility in thinking.

Literacy Studies have shown that children who are bilingual or multilingual tend to perform better academically. Learning multiple languages enhances literacy skills, including reading, writing, and comprehension. It can also improve performance in subjects like mathematics.

Culture Language is deeply intertwined with culture. Learning a language early exposes children to different cultures, fostering an appreciation for diversity. This early exposure can contribute to a more open-minded and globally aware individual.

Communication Early language acquisition helps develop strong communication skills. Children who learn multiple languages tend to be more effective communicators, as they are accustomed to navigating different linguistic and cultural contexts.

At Club Petit Pierrot, we are not just teaching French, we are fostering a love for learning. Your child will flourish and learn effortlessly!

A BIENTOT !

Stella

Fun French Lessons ONLINE / ACROSS LONDON

The post Key reasons it is essential to learn a language during the early years! first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

Discover the second part of videos and activities to practise while playing language games, cooking, singing or making arts and crafts with our teachers.

And check out the recommendations of activity books, games and books from Librairie La Page for all ages and levels.

LES VIDÉOS MINI LEÇONS ET ACTIVITÉS – MINI FRENCH LESSONS VIDEOS & ACTIVITIES

From 6 years old

 

Construction de phrases – minéraux, végétaux, animaux

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Fun sentence constructions on the topics: minerals, animals and vegetal.

Be mindful when to choose the feminine, masculine or singular, plural forms!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Lien youtube Download the activity  click here

 

 

Les souvenirs de Paris

(for all levels of French)

Our native French teacher is on holiday in Paris! He bought some “souvenirs” for his family. Can you help him decide which souvenir he will give them?

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

 

From 5 years old

 

Comment vivent les enfants d’Outre-Mer ?

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Watch the video to discover how the children live in the overseas and have fun answering a quiz!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

 

 

Le jeu du Mistigri des mots qui riment.

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Print the cards game and like the French teachers find the pairs with the words that rhyme.

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

 

From 4 years old

 

Recette “La tarte à la tomate”

(for all levels of French)

It’s the pique-nique season! Follow our French teacher recipe to make a delicious tarte à la tomate. Enjoy it by the beach or at the countryside!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

 

From 3 years old

 

Les insectes qui piquent

(for all levels of French)

Oh là là ! Mielou has been stung by an insect! Play with our native French teacher and discover which ones can sting.

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

 

From 1 year old

 

Le bateau en pâte à sel

(for all levels of French)

What can you see à la mer ? Let’s get creative making a boat floating on the sea!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

 

LES CAHIERS D’ACTIVITÉS – FRENCH ACTIVITIES BOOKS

From 5 years old

 

Activity book – Passeport de la Grande Section au CP

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Lots of games and activities in French to practise all school subjects this Summer!

Get your copy here  click here

 

From 4 years old

 

Activity book – Moyenne section

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Practise reading and writing skills in French this Summer with cultural and playful games.

Get your copy here  click here

 

LES CHANTS ET POÈMES – FRENCH SONGS & POEMS

From 4 years old

 

Je marche dans la ville

(for all levels of French)

Sing along with our pupils, performing our original song Je marche dans la ville !

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

 

 

Savez-vous ce qui est difficile ?

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Discover and learn the poem created by some of our pupils from les classes des francophones!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

 

LES LIVRES ET LES JEUX – FRENCH BOOKS & GAMES FROM THE FRENCH BOOKSHOP LIBRAIRIE LA PAGE

From 6 years old

 

Détective Bernique

(for all levels of French)

When a little boy who loves observing the shells find an amazing limpet, they start a crazy adventure!

Get your copy here  click here

 

From 3 years old

 

Cartes à gratter – Toutes petites bêtes

(for all levels of French)

Discover le papillon , l’abeille , la chenille  et la coccinelle  scratching these 4 cards.

Get your copy here  click here

 

From 2 years old

 

Je pêche les poissons

(for all levels of French)

Let’s go fishing with your little ones! A lovely game to practise sealife, colour vocabulary and counting!

Get your copy here  click here

 

From 1 year old

 

Sous la mer

(for all levels of French)

Discover the beauty of the ocean with this tactile book!

Get your copy here  click here

 

BONNES VACANCES from Team Petit Pierrot!

SEE YOU in September | Registration for the Autumn Term here

The post “C’est les vacances !” Fun French activities and recommendations to practise during the holiday (part 2) first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

C’est les vacances and it’s time for your children to relax and have fun under the sun!

Either à la mer, à la campagne or en ville let’s learn and practise French on these topics, at home or on the go!

Here is our first selection of videos with language games, activities and songs made by our teachers and recommendations of activity books, games and books from Librairie La Page for all ages and levels.

LES VIDÉOS MINI LEÇONS ET ACTIVITÉS – MINI FRENCH LESSONS VIDEOS & ACTIVITIES

From 6 years old

 

Construction de phrases – à la campagne

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Follow our French teacher to make some sentences with some countryside vocabulary. Be careful about the feminine and masculine and singular and plural forms!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download th activity  click here

From 4 to 6 years old

 

Jeu du memory – à la plage

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Let’s practise words’ recognition with this memory game about holiday at the beach!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

 

L’Alphabet

(for all levels of French)

Let’s practise the alphabet in French and learn some French vocabulary with our native French teacher!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Download the activity  click here

LES CAHIERS D’ACTIVITÉS – FRENCH ACTIVITIES BOOKS

From 6 years old

 

Passeport du CP au CE1

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Lots of games and activities in French to practise reading, writing, comprehension on all school subjects this Summer!

Get your copy here  click here

 

 

From 4 to 6 years old

 

Graphisme Ecriture, premiers pas vers la lecture – Grande section

(for advanced levels and francophones)

A mix of graphism, letters and sounds recognition with stickers. This activity book is a great tool to practise reading and writing skills!

Get your copy here  click here

From 3 to 5 years old

 

Mon cahier ardoise – ma petite section

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Little ones practise and improve their pencil grip and hand writing skills with this activity book.

Get your copy here  click here

LES CHANTS ET POÈMES – FRENCH SONGS & POEMS

From 6 years old

 

Quand la vie…

(for advanced levels and francophones)

Discover and learn the poem created by some of our pupils from les classes des francophones!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

 

 

Être à Paris

(for all levels of French)

Sing along with our pupils! Our 6 to 8 years old pupils have re written our song with the verb Être!

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

From 2 years old

 

Madame chenille

(for all levels of French)

Sing along with our French teacher this cute rhyme about la chenille 

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

Under 3 years old

 

Une petite coccinelle

(for all levels of French)

Sing along with our French teacher this lovely rhyme about la coccinelle 

Video on our YouTube Channel  click here

LES LIVRES ET LES JEUX – FRENCH BOOKS & GAMES FROM THE FRENCH BOOKSHOP LIBRAIRIE LA PAGE

From 6 years old

 

Le slip de bain ou les pires vacances de ma vie.

(for all levels of French)

Follow this boy on holiday with his cousins at their grand-mother’s place!

Get your copy here  click here

From 4 to 6 years old

 

Ana Ana, une virée à la mer

(for all levels of French)

When Ana Ana brings her soft toys to the beach, they all stay quiet and listen to the waves…

Until she starts playing on the beach, swimming in the sea…

Get your copy here  click here

 

Jeu mon puzzle géant de la ville

(for all levels of French)

Children create their own city with this giant puzzle. A perfect setting to practise our song Je marche dans la ville and to role play shopping in the stores!

Get your copy here  click here

 

From 3 to 5 years old

 

Mes premières chanson au bord de la mer

(for all levels of French)

Let’s go à la mer with this musical books to discover and sing famous and traditional French songs and rhymes.

Get your copy here  click here

Under 3 years old

 

Raphaël le papillon

(for all levels of French)

Every day, Raphaël the butterfly flies between the daffodils, the roses and the tulips. His friends help him to paint his wings with all the colours like a beautiful bunch of flowers!

Get your copy here  click here

 

 

Stay tuned! We will be back with Part 2 and more recommendations for the summer!

Amusez-vous bien !

The post Bonnes Vacances ! Fun French activities to practise during the holiday (part 1) first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

I was recently interviewed for The French newspaper Le Figaro and on this occasion, the subject was about how best to maintain a child’s language skills and culture for French children living abroad.

It inspired me to write this blog to share my thoughts on this! As a teacher and a mother, I know that it is a challenge.

1. Language and culture are connected!

Speaking a language is not only the use of words to communicate, it is how we share our culture and traditions, as well as our history, sense of humour and emotions!

2. Analyse your context: It will help with any expectations or frustrations.

Not all children with a French parent hear French being spoken to them every day. Ask yourself…

• How often does my child hear spoken French during a week?
• Who speaks French to her/him?
• Does my child understand when I speak French?
• Does he reply in French or English?
• When my child tries to speak French, are they confident?

3. Make a plan!

The most common strategies

• One person – One language / each parent speaks in their native language.
• The minority language is spoken at home. In this case French
• When & Where: Plan moment(s) in your daily or weekly family routine which are always in French.

I advise choosing and adapting any strategy to fit in with your own family lifestyle!

4. What to avoid?

First try not to worry too much about it, remove any stress around the language!

• Don’t force your child to reply in French or repeat all the time, they will be discouraged to speak!
• Avoid systematic translation: It is not necessary, and this would be a missed opportunity to teach more and expand their vocabulary in a natural manner: you could explain the meaning of a word in French with other words, discuss possibilities with your child and/or you can mime, draw while explaining this in French.
• Don’t expect perfection. One learns by experimenting and therefore making mistakes is part of the process.
• Don’t give up, even if your child replies in English or mixes up both languages.

5. The importance of making it fun and meaningful.

• When your child is having fun, she/he is not frightened to experiment, so in this case not frightened to speak.
• Your child needs a reason to speak. They will naturally communicate if it is useful.
• Ideally your child forgets you are speaking in French and just communicates with you (even if in English sometimes or with an imperfect French) and feels that there is no pressure!

6. Several practical ideas to keep it as effortless as possible for you and your child!

• Speak French during everyday life routine: morning and evening routine, meals…
• Read stories: will improve their language skills.
• Play together: with any toys or board games that you both enjoy.
• Cook together: when following instructions, they will develop their listening skills and expand their vocabulary.
• Sing songs: children’s songs but also your favourite adult songs in French! When singing they will effortlessly absorb grammatical structures.

7. Learning a language is a journey.

Children learn a language through hearing it first. Their progress will depend on the amount of exposure they get. Therefore don’t compare their progress with friends or siblings. Each child has their own journey depending on their daily life.

Alors keep at it, having fun will have a positive effect on everyone’s motivation!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or send an email!

admin@clubpetitpierrot.co.uk | 020 3969 2642

Article in Le Figaro LINK

The post Learn how best to help your young child speak French with you! first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

Ho Ho Ho ! Le sapin de Noël is up, le Père Noël is getting ready to bring les cadeaux…

So while waiting for Santa to come to town, the children can learn and practise French at home with our festive French activities! 

The painting sucre d’orge

For toddlers and children up to 5 years old – suitable for all levels of French

Let’s add a yummy touch to our Christmas decoration with a candy cane painting activity. Little ones will practise fine motor skills and vocabulary in French!

The magique colouring

For children from 3 years old – suitable for all levels of French

Download this magic colouring and colour each letter according to the example. What animal is hidden? A fun way to practise letters recognition!

La maison de Noël

For children from 4 to 8 years old – suitable for all levels of French

It’s time to decorate the house for Christmas! Follow our French teacher video and decorate your own house. Children will make sentences in French using vocabulary about the house and Christmas!

La bûche de Noël  

Did you know? Yule log is the traditional Christmas dessert in France! So, roll up your sleeves and put your apron on! Let’s make a delicious fruit yule log! The exotics fruits can be replaced by any other fruits the children like! https://youtu.be/hemYfirutgQ

L’histoire de Noël

For children from 4 to 8 years old – suitable for advanced level and francophone

We all love a Christmas story! Listen to our French teacher and discover the story of Noël, a little boy with an amazing and magical secret.

Following the storytelling, children can also play our quiz to answer questions!

We wish you all Happy Holidays and look forward to seeing you in 2023!

Joyeuses Fêtes !

Registration HERE

The post Joyeuses Fêtes ! first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

Hairy araignées, pointed sorcières hat, flying chauve-souris, scary fantômes… your mini-linguists will experiment with painting, cooking, colouring, quiz and learn about Halloween all in French! 

Handprint araignées

All ages but very easy to do with little ones!

Watch our native French teacher and make your own spider to decorate your room for Halloween!

Magical Colouring Activity

From 2 to 5 years old

Colour all the letters V in grey… what animal appears?

Halloween Colouring Activity

From 3 to 8 years old

Can you spot all the Halloween characters? Colour them in the right colour!

Cooking Activity: Les monstres!

From 2 to 8 years old

Make your own scary tartines with yummy ingredients and Bon Appétit !

C’est quoi Halloween ?

From 5 years old (advanced to fluent)

Watch the video in French and it’s Quiz Time!

And to make it even more spooky and fun, children can join our Halloween Holiday Club and Event!

Holiday Club from 24th to 28th October in Chelsea

Hall of Remembrance with a playground, Flood Street, London SW3 5SY
Full Day (9am-4pm)From 4 to 6 and 6 to 8 years old. Children will be divided into groups according to their age and level of French.

They will learn, expand their vocabulary and their French language skills with educational and creative activities led by dynamic and dedicated native French teachers!

Only a few places left! You can register here

Storytelling Adventure at the French bookshop Librairie La Page

Children will be immersed in the language, interacting in French while discovering a story with singing and dancing too!

Wednesday 26th October
(7 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ES)
From 1 to 3 years old – 10am – Register here (only a few places left)
From 3 to 5 years old – 11am – Register here (only a few places left)

The post Booooh ! Let’s be effrayant this half-term with spooky activities in French! first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

C’est les vacances d’été !

It’s time to relax, enjoy the sun, travel and it’s especially time to have fun!

So let’s travel with Petit Pierrot and go shopping to le marché in Provence, to la plage and to la campagne !

Craft activities, cooking recipes, videos and games researched and prepared by the teachers to learn at home or on the go!

SHOPPING AT le marché

 

Discover and colour in the fruit and vegetables:

Find out which fruit we use to make these famous French pastries:

Bake a delicious savoury asparagus and goat’s cheese cake:

Learn how tomatoes grow and why they can be more or sometimes less tasty! https://www.1jour1actu.com/monde/pourquoi-dit-on-que-les-tomates-ont-moins-de-gout

A DAY AT la plage

Have fun with a colouring-in picture of the beach:

Look for the French pronoun and colour them with the right colour:

How many fish are in the sea? Let’s stick them on!

Crossword: sea themed French vocabulary

Make some refreshing fruit popsicles:

Is the sun good for my health?

Watch the video and answer the quiz! https://www.1jour1actu.com/sante/est-ce-que-le-soleil-cest-bon-pour-la-sante

A TRIP TO la campagne

Why do we need trees to breath? Watch the video and answer the quiz!

https://www.1jour1actu.com/science-et-environnement/pourquoi-a-t-on-besoin-des-arbres-pour-respirer

We wish you a wonderful summer full of discoveries and plenty of rest pour les enfants et les parents aussi !!

BONNES VACANCES from Team Petit Pierrot XXXXXXXXXXX

SEE YOU in September | Registration for the Autumn Term here

The post VOYAGE ! VOYAGE first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.

Discover the French National Day with fun activities in French!

You might already know that 14^th July is the French National Day, but do you know what it is exactly and what happens on that day?

On 14^th July, because it was on that day in 1789 that revolutionaries stormed and seized control of the medieval armoury, fortress, and political prison known as the Bastille to protest against the monarchy’s abuse of power. It’s one of the main highlights of the French Revolution. That’s why our National Day is celebrated on that date and is known worldwide as “Bastille Day”

Talking about “Bastille Day” . It’s not easy to pronounce! Let’s see how to do it The correct pronunciation is (Bas tij) or “bas-tee) there is no L sound.

The 14^th July is a Bank Holiday in France. Most stores and services will be closed and people tend to spend the day with family or friends.

The Army parades along the Champs-Élysées ! This parade is one of the oldest in the world and a highlight of the 14 juillet festivities! The French President reviews the troops, while citizens are treated to a spectacle of marches, fly-pasts and even parachutists dropping in!

On va chanter “La Marseillaise”, the National French Anthem, written by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle. Its name comes from the revolutionaries from Marseille who sang it during their long march to Paris to participate in the Revolution. It was adopted as the National Anthem in 1795.

Firework shows take place across the country! In Paris it will illuminate La Tour Eiffel!

Let’s have fun while improving your French with these 14 juillet themed activities!

The firework on the Eiffel Tower

The Air Force Parade

Mais pourquoi avoir choisi le 14 juillet ?

Video here

Why not join our French Storytelling Adventure to celebrate “Bastille Day” with us!

From 1 to 3 years old and 3 to 5 years old on 14^th July at the French bookshop Librairie La Page ! Registration here

FRENCH LESSONS FOR CHILDREN – LONDON

clubpetitpierrot.co.uk

The post JOYEUX QUATORZE JUILLET ! first appeared on Club Petit Pierrot.