Fun Ways to Teach Kids French

Fun ways to teach kids French include games like “Jacques a dit,” songs such as Frère Jacques, cartoons with subtitles, labeling household items, and cooking simple French recipes. These playful activities fit into daily routines and help children speak French with confidence.

Fun Ways to Teach Kids French at Home

• Play quick games like Jacques a dit or French Bingo during downtime

• Sing French songs in the car or at bedtime for natural repetition

• Watch French cartoons or movies with subtitles for easy exposure

• Turn everyday routines, like cooking or labeling objects, into mini French lessons

At Homeschool Languages, we’ve created a French curriculum that makes speaking French at home simple and fun!

With scripted lessons, songs, and playful activities, you don’t need fluency, you just open the box (or download), press play, and start speaking together. [Try free lessons here.]

That’s the quick version! If you’d love ideas you can use right away, plus answers to the questions parents always ask about teaching French, we’ve gathered the most playful and practical strategies in the sections below.

Why Fun Works Better Than Flashcards

We’ve all seen kids glaze over when they face another stack of flashcards. But when learning feels like a game, their eyes light up. Play keeps the pressure low and the curiosity high. 

Here’s the best part: kids repeat without even realizing it!!!!

That repetition is what makes French stick. And for us parents? 

We don’t have to feel like “teachers.” Subtitles, scripts, and little routines carry the load. Fun frees us to enjoy the process instead of stressing over perfect grammar.

Quick Start Ideas for Busy Parents

We know you don’t have hours to plan lessons. Here’s how to weave French in without overwhelm:

• Spend 5 minutes singing a song before bed.

• Say colors or numbers during snack time.

• Swap “please” and “thank you” for “s’il vous plaît” and “merci.”

• Watch one cartoon in French instead of English.

Tiny steps add up. These little moments send a big message: “French belongs in our home.”

Play-Based French Learning

Kids learn best through movement and laughter. Try:

• Jacques a dit (Simon Says) for body parts and action words.

• French Bingo or Memory Match to practice new vocabulary.

• Charades & Pictionary for silly acting and drawing fun.

• Treasure hunts where kids hunt for objects and name them in French.

These activities aren’t “study.” They’re play. And play is how kids naturally practice and remember.

Music and Movement That Stick

Songs are like glue for the brain. When we sing, words flow without effort.

• Start with classics like Frère Jacques or Alouette.

• Add motions or dances for rhythm and memory.

• Create a playlist for car rides or chore time.

Music sneaks repetition into everyday life, and suddenly your kids are humming French while brushing their teeth.

Storytelling, Books, and Screen Time

Stories give kids context, words with pictures, feelings, and action.

• Read simple bilingual books or picture books in French.

• Watch cartoons like T’choupi or Petit Ours Brun with subtitles.

• Try audiobooks at bedtime to build listening skills.

• Re-watch favorites so vocabulary becomes familiar.

When French lives in the stories they love, kids don’t see “learning.” They just see adventure.

Everyday Routines That Turn Into Lessons

Your home is the perfect French classroom.

• Label everyday items with sticky notes: porte, chaise, fenêtre.

• Turn breakfast into a mini French show: “Qui veut du lait? Qui veut du pain?”

• Try 10-minute “French-only zones”, at the table, in the car, or during play.

• Role-play shopping or restaurant scenes with toys or real food.

The best part? You’re not adding tasks, you’re just changing the language you use in the ones you already do.

Culture as a Gateway to Language

French is words, songs, flavors, and traditions. Kids connect faster when culture is part of the mix.

• Cook crêpes or madeleines and name the ingredients together.

• Celebrate holidays with a French song or phrase.

• Take virtual trips to museums or French-speaking countries.

When culture comes alive, kids see French as a real-world adventure, not a subject.

French doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be present!!

Bringing It All Together With Homeschool Languages

Here’s the truth: French sticks best when it’s part of your daily rhythm, singing, playing, cooking, laughing!

But if you’re ready for your family to actually start speaking French back to you, you’ll want more than scattered activities.

That’s where Homeschool Languages comes in. Our French curriculum is open-and-go, fully scripted, and playful. It gives you structure without the stress, so you can keep those little French moments going every day.

Because bilingual homes aren’t built overnight, they grow in the small, joyful steps we take together. And we’d love to walk that journey with you.

Explore our French program here.

FAQs

What’s the easiest French game for beginners? Jacques a dit or I Spy. Both use movement and simple vocabulary.

Can toddlers learn? Yes! Songs, rhythm, and repetition help even the youngest kids absorb sounds.

How much time do we need? Just 10 minutes a day adds up. Short bursts of fun create more progress than long, stressful sessions.

What if I’m not fluent? That’s okay. You don’t need to be. With scripts, subtitles, and simple routines, you learn right alongside your kids.

Will play really work? Yes! Kids thrive on repetition, and games naturally build it in.

What if they resist? Keep it short and lighthearted. Five minutes of fun beats thirty minutes of forced study.