Written in collaboration with the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE).
The CECCE is a French-language school board in the Ottawa area, and the largest Canadian network of French-language schools outside Quebec. Un grand MERCI to them for providing insights from their document “Bienvenue à la maternelle”.
Preparing Your Child for French School: A Comprehensive Guide
Is your child gearing up for their journey to French-language school? This blogpost will help share tips and strategies to ensure that both you and your child feel confident and ready to start French school.
Here are some tips to ensuring a smooth transition to French school:
1
Engage in Authentic Conversations:
Use French words at home:
Introduce simple French phrases & words into your daily conversations. Hearing familiar words in the classroom will boost your child’s confidence.
Here’s a sample cheat sheet:
Click on the French word below to open it’s English translation & pronunciation.
Tip: Ask your child about their favourite part of the day.
Discussing specific events encourages active listening and helps to build vocabulary.
2
Incorporate Music and Movement:
Create a playlist of French songs:
- dance together in the living room
- listen to it while in the car
- encourage your child to sing along
This reinforces vocabulary and pronunciation through repetition.
Bring out the instruments!
Use rhythm and movement to teach concepts like counting or phonetics.
Don’t have an instrument? Use “les mains” (your hands)!
Listen to tunes that include common French words / phrases. Expose your child to French music at home to familiarize them with the rhythm and sound of the language. Try catchy tunes like this one: “Comment ça va?” (How’s it going?).
3
Read Together Daily:
- Choose books with interactive elements, like lift-the-flap or touch-and-feel books, to engage your child’s senses and curiosity.
- Point out specific details in the illustrations and ask your child questions about them.
For example, “Can you find the cat hiding in the picture?”
Tip: If you can’t read in French, read in your spoken language!
Though of course it would be helpful to read to your child in French, if you’re unable to, reading skills (left to right, pointing to the words as you go) are important and can be taught in any language.
French Book Recommendations
Simple French Books with Repetition: make it easy for learners new to French (and for parents learning alongside their child too!).
Camille la chenille is a cute story about a caterpillar that’s taking a while longer to turn into a butterfly.
Social Stories: introduce French in a way that encourages language learning and gets children excited to add to their vocabulary.
How to Make Un Ami is a bilingual book that helps English families introduce basic French vocabulary in a fun & realistic way.
French Stories about School: to normalize the experience and address any fears or anxieties your child may have.
Click Here to access a list of French children’s books related to starting school.
4
Promote Hands-On / Physical Activities:
- Play educational games that involve physical activity, such as a scavenger hunt where your child has to find items and practice French vocabulary.
- Create an obstacle course in the backyard using French vocabulary for directions (e.g., “Saute” for jump and “Tourne à gauche” for turn left).
- Encourage arts & crafts at home! Allowing them to practice cutting / glueing skills at home will help them to feel more confident in school.
5
Make Fun Learning a Part of Mealtime:
- Involve your child in cooking activities: using French recipes or labeling ingredients with their French names.
- Have your child help make their lunches. The first few weeks before school, have them practice eating lunch out of their lunch bag. Notice what items they need help opening and either practice with them, or remove those items from their packing when placing them in their school lunches.
6
Encourage Independence:
One of the BEST things you can do to prepare your child for school is to help them practice completing self-care tasks independently.
(Ex: washing their hands, using the toilet, zipping up their coat, putting on shoes)
Bonus:
Practice self-care routines in French, such as brushing teeth or getting dressed. Use simple commands and praise your child (“Bravo!”) for completing tasks independently.
7
Establish Consistent Routines:
Create a visual schedule with pictures depicting each step of the morning routine, including getting dressed, eating breakfast, and packing their backpack.
Don’t what to make one yourself? Here, you can find a downloadable French routine chart.
Fun Tip: Use a countdown calendar to mark the days until school starts, building excitement and helping your child understand the concept of time.
8
Reduce Stress for You and Your Child:
- Visit your school’s yard: Take your child to play in their school’s yard to familiarize them with the environment. Positive memories there will make going to school easier.
- Find your child’s school board tips on starting school. For example, my son’s school board, CECCE, has put this together to ease the transition to school: CECCE – Conseils Pour Préparer Mon Enfant À La Maternelle
Video Content: See if they have a video about what a day at school looks like, like this one: CECCE – A Quoi Ressemble Une Journée À La Maternelle?
Prepare for the Big Day:
Find a Prep for School program: Consider enrolling your child in a Prep for School program like 123 Petits Pas, an online virtual option for families learning French together.
Additionally, check if your school board offers in-person prep for school opportunities, like this one provided by the CECCE.
Role-play different scenarios, such as meeting new friends or asking the teacher for help, to boost your child’s confidence and social skills. See the book recommendations section above to find books that might help!
Create a special “first day of school” tradition, like taking a photo in front of the house or making a special breakfast together, to mark the occasion.
9
Know that you're not alone!
Though it can be a little stressful awaiting the big transition, preparing your child for French school is an exciting journey filled with opportunities for growth and learning.
By incorporating these specific activities into your daily routine, you can help your child develop language skills, confidence, and enthusiasm for their French school experience.
We wish you all the best on your child’s journey to French school! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if ever you need any support regarding French learning.
Madame Amy
Founder of 123 Petits Pas Inc., Certified French educator, and mother of 2 bilingual children.