A 5-step Guide to Learn French with Your Baby

Were you aware that fluency isn't a requirement for raising a bilingual child? These five tips for teaching French to babies make the goal of raising a bilingual child an achievable reality.

And if you've been looking for a reason to seriously commit to learning French, this could be the perfect motivation. Continue reading to discover how you and your baby can learn French together.

1. Use Your Most Common Phrases in French

Consider the words and phrases you use daily or are currently teaching your child.

This might include your child's preferred foods, items of clothing, household objects, or concepts like numbers from one to ten that you're teaching in English.

Develop the habit of saying these words in French, either alongside or in place of English. A useful French-English dictionary app can help you find translations—many also provide audio pronunciations.

This approach makes French directly relevant to your family's daily life and seamlessly incorporates language learning into your routine.

For instance, you likely tell your child "I love you" frequently. Instead, try saying, Je t’aime !

Let's be realistic, every parent says, “Don’t touch that!” multiple times a day. Learn to say, Touche pas !

Study animal names, such as le mouton (sheep), le chat (cat), le chien (dog) and l’oiseau (bird). Learn terms for family members, like la fille (daughter), le fils (son) or la tante (aunt).

You can even learn French equivalents for baby talk. In English, a minor injury might be called an "owie." In French, this is un bobo.

2. Play French TV Shows or Movies

Watching cartoons and movies is an excellent method for children to acquire vocabulary in any language! The visuals capture their attention while the audio surrounds them with the sounds of the language.

Even better, it's not just for the baby. Singing along to a French show's songs or enjoying a French film on family movie night are fun ways for the whole family to pick up basic words.

Be mindful, however, not to let the drawbacks of screen time outweigh the advantages of French exposure. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that children aged two to five should have less than an hour of screen time per day, and babies under two should mostly avoid screens. So plan your French viewing as your children grow.

Getting started is very simple. Just convert your usual screen time into French time! Instead of watching "Sesame Street" or "Doc McStuffins," you could try "Bonjour Les Amis" ("Hello Friends") on Amazon Prime Video. This is a 52-minute children's movie made specifically to teach French to young children. Its slow, repetitive pace is ideal for your toddler!

You can also watch French-dubbed versions of well-known favorites, like “SpongeBob.” Here are a few sample lessons from our YouTube channel:

Alternatively, you can discover a variety of short clips from animated films and cartoons with interactive subtitles on the Lingflix program. Lingflix uses authentic videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and transforms them into personalized language lessons. You can try Lingflix free for 2 weeks. Visit the website or download the iOS app or Android app. P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

3. Read French Bedtime Stories

I strongly believe in the value of parents reading bedtime stories to their babies every night, no matter their language goals! My mother read to me until I was in upper elementary school, and I gained significant educational advantages from this practice.

Children need to hear words multiple times before they learn to say them. Re-reading the same books helps children develop their speaking abilities.

Reading before bed is also a wonderful bonding activity. Through French bedtime stories, your child will connect reading and the French language with special moments spent with mom or dad!

Now is the perfect time to start this habit with French storybooks. A wide variety of children's books are available in French. You might begin with stories originally written in French by francophone authors. There are French classics like “Le Petit Prince” (“The Little Prince”) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry or books from the “T’choupi” series by Thierry Courtin.

You can also read classic American stories that have been translated into French. Several popular Dr. Seuss books are available in French, such as “Le Chat chapeauté” (“The Cat in the Hat”) and “Les Œufs verts au jambon” (“Green Eggs and Ham”).

Look at Scholastic Canada for more suggestions. For example, you'll find many books from the “Clifford the Big Red Dog” series available in French.

Now, read one of these books to your baby. Every. Single. Night.

These simple books will help you as well. You'll learn basic French vocabulary and enhance your reading skills. Reading aloud is a perfect way for you to practice your pronunciation every day!

For more French children's books, see this post!

4. Hire a Francophone Babysitter

You probably already use a babysitter occasionally. In that case, think about finding a babysitter who speaks French.

Arrange with the caregiver that they will speak only French with your child. This provides your child with a few extra hours per week of hearing the language. They will also learn vocabulary from the sitter that you might not think to teach them.

Once your little one starts understanding the babysitter's words and begins to talk, your child might end up teaching you French! Learning from your child can be a delightful way to broaden your language skills.

5. Make Learning French “Your Thing”

Teaching your baby French shouldn't feel like a chore. Set aside specific times to speak French with your child and keep it enjoyable! Read those storybooks, watch TV, and sing songs.

This way, your child will link learning the language with positive, quality time with a parent. It's a fantastic way to strengthen your bond. It also helps create a consistent routine for your French learning, which is crucial for keeping both you and your child moving toward fluency.

If you want to learn French with your baby and your partner is less interested, you might decide that one of you speaks English and the other speaks French with the baby. This is an effective method to establish bilingualism and create special one-on-one time between the child and each of you.

Things to Remember When Learning French with Your Baby

• You don’t have to be fluent to raise a bilingual child. This might seem puzzling. How can you teach a baby French if you don't speak it yourself? Keep in mind, if your child is young, their English skills are also very basic! But they are still learning. You don't need to debate complex topics to teach a young child French. The main goal is to build a foundational understanding of the language.

• Don’t wait. Studies indicate that young children have a natural capacity and eagerness for learning languages. So don't delay! It's never too late to start, but many experts agree that starting younger makes the process easier. An early start not only benefits children but also makes teaching and learning French simpler for you, avoiding the need to catch up later.

• Be patient. Even though children often pick up new languages more easily, don't expect immediate fluency! They will acquire the language gradually through repeated exposure and immersion, much like adults! This applies to you, too. Allow yourself the necessary time to learn and don't be overly critical of your mistakes.

If you imagine a home filled with French-speaking children, don't dismiss this as just a dream. By weaving French into your home life and your interactions with your baby, you'll both be enjoying la vie française (the French life) before you know it!