Is your child learning to speak French? If so, it’s important that he or she practices French outside of school and/or private lessons.
Finding fun ways to practice French, however, can be difficult. After all, there’s only so much time in one day.
Why Should Kids Learn French?
- It’s often easier to learn a new language at a young age. Anyone who’s tried learning French as an adult can attest to how challenging it is. Kids’ brains are generally better at processing and absorbing new languages without conscious effort.
- It’ll build their key emotional capacities. Emotional intelligence is a term used to describe the interrelated capacities in perceiving, expressing, understanding, and regulating emotion. Some studies show that learning another language helps children build empathy, which is a primary component of emotional intelligence.
- It can increase their understanding of culture. Cultural competency is the ability to communicate effectively with individuals from a diversity of cultures. Learning French certainly equips kids with the mechanics to communicate in another language, but it can also expose them to new perspectives and help raise their awareness of other cultures.
- It allows them to communicate with a larger cross-section of people. While English has become a widely spoken language worldwide, having the ability to communicate with French speakers in their native tongue allows for more relationships and experiences—and we’re not just talking about in France. Native French speakers live all over the world, from North America to Africa, the Pacific, Europe, and the Caribbean.
French is the official language in 29 countries, not counting a number of other areas of the world with significant French-speaking populations. Now that’s a round-the-world trip!
- It provides opportunities down the road. We all want the kids in our lives to be successful and fulfilled. And in today’s global economy, bilingualism is a major asset for job-seekers. When your child becomes fluent in French, it can expand their professional opportunities down the road.
In fact, almost every single job I’ve ever had was because I spoke French (even if it wasn’t in the job description).
- French and English language development work together. Some parents might be concerned that learning another language will confuse or delay their child’s English language development, but there’s actually no need to worry.
Although bilingual children tend to start speaking later than monolingual children, they still begin speaking well within the normal range and are able to switch languages depending on their conversation partner.
- It makes it easier to learn other languages. Learning French early will equip kids with skills and knowledge that can apply to learning other languages. If your child has learned French, they’ve already acquired some strategies that work for them. In addition, there may be cross-language similarities that make vocabulary and comprehension easier.
French Cultural Activities
Play Simon Says
Put a French spin on the game Simon Says. Take on the role of Simon and issue commands. For example, “Simon says…le pied!” or “Simon says…le nez.” This French activity does a great job teaching kids the different body parts in French.
Twenty Questions
Give this guessing game a French twist. First, think of a place or person and keep it to yourself. Your child will ask you 20 yes or no questions in French to determine what place or person you’re thinking of.
Put on a scavenger hunt
Set up a fun scavenger hunt around the yard or house. At each destination, your child will have to read a clue (in French) to move onto the next destination. In the end, reward your child with a fun toy or treat.
Act it out together
Gather the family and play a game of charades. First, divide everyone into two teams. Then, write out a selection of French verbs, nouns, or phrases to act out. The first team will act out a verb, noun, and phrase, while the other team guesses.
French nursery rhymes
A great way to learn French is through song. “Alouette” and “Frere Jacques” are two of the most popular French nursery songs that kids learn. Print out the song and sing along with your child.
French Vocabulary Activities
Puzzles
You can download and print dozens of free French crosswords and word searches for your child. He or she will have fun playing, while simultaneously learning French vocabulary and simple sentences. Keep a stack in the car for long road trips.
Memory game
Create some French flashcards and place them face down on a table. Your child will flip over two cards. If the pictures match, your child will flip over two more cards. The point of the game is to match all of the cards from memory.
Coloring books
Purchase a French coloring book for as little as $5 on Amazon. These coloring books will spark your child’s creativity, while helping him or her learn various vocabulary words and themes.
Read French books
There are a ton of beginner French books. Le Petit Prince is one of the most well-known French children’s books. You can find the book in almost any brick and mortar or online book store.
Hangman
This French activity is played exactly like the original Hangman version, except you are using French vocabulary words and phrases instead of English.
French Number Activities
Throw a bingo night
Create your own bingo cards from materials around the house or print some boards from the web. Your child will have to listen and identify what number you’re saying out loud.
Toss it
Standing in a circle, throw a tennis ball to another person within the circle. Once the person catches the ball, he or she must say the next number in French. If the person doesn’t know the correct number or mispronounces it, he or she will step outside the circle.
Uno
This classic card game is great for teaching your child French numbers. To make the game educational, have your child say the number of each card he or she plays in French.
Go Play!
Getting your child to practice French outside of the classroom doesn’t have to be difficult. Plan to do one or more of these French activities every week and you will see vast improvements in your child’s language abilities.
Listen to Kids’ Music in French
Ok, I’ve saved the easiest option for last. One final way of immersing your kids in French is to surround them with French music (this is also a good way to learn French yourself).
Not only does this help with pronunciation, vocabulary, and familiarity with French, but it also requires very little effort on your part—and you may find yourself picking up some new words!
The problem? Most kids’ music is terrible. But fear not. I’ve chosen some music that your kids will love, and that won’t drive you too crazy. And because home is where the heart is, the majority are French Canadian music that my family and I enjoy:
- Madame Diva: You can purchase Madame Diva’s music on iTunes, and check out the videos on YouTube (linked from her site). Get ready for lots of folk-inspired music and imagery.
- Charlotte Diamond: “Je Suis Une Pizza” (“I’m a Pizza”) is certified solid gold, but Charlotte Diamond has lots of other good music too, and it’s available in both French and English. Warning: this stuff will get stuck in your head. Also available on iTunes or through her website.
- “Allo Monsieur! French Canadian Children’s Songs:” Okay, this one takes a little bit more effort on your part, but it makes my list because it uses games to engage kids in the music. For example, one song involves children jumping rope to a beat, while another incorporates a ball-bouncing activity.
These songs are accompanied by instruction guides that explain how to incorporate the game as well as questions to ask children about the sound of French, the words, and the rhythm.
Well, there you have it, Even if your child is resistant to learning French at first, there are a variety of strategies you can utilize to get and keep them interested. Believe me—they’ll look back on their childhood and be thankful for the language skills that they developed. This is one investment that yields many returns.
There are a lot of benefits that your child could get from learning French. Aside from begin a good bonding activity with your children, learning French will promote their cognitive development, boost their emotional and relational skills, among many others.
So above points shows that to learn french or any other foreign language is how much important for kids. Nowadays so many platforms are available to learn any language. One can learn it from various sources like through websites, from reading books and newspapers, watching movies, listening to songs.
A few months back, I had enrolled for live video training sessions with language experts with a reputed and trustworthy source of education or language-learning. There, I got a chance to communicate with language experts during each session, get my innumerable doubts and queries cleared, and my questions answered to the point of satisfaction. I am absolutely satisfied with the way they taught me to speak in English. You see, today, I am writing this blog completely in English, without using even a single word or phrase from another language. I am confident and I am fluent in a language, thanks to Multibhashi Language Learning Sessions!
If you wish to learn any language right from the basics or even its advanced level, Multibhashi Language Learning Sessions are an excellent solution.
If you are willing to learn a new language or even wish to try this source of knowledge!
Make this learning fun, participate in all the fun events related to the language you want to learn. Don’t worry about the wrong pronunciations because you are still learning.
Please click on the button below to know more about our french course!
