Living abroad as a family is an extraordinary adventure. Your children grow up between two cultures, two languages, and sometimes two ways of thinking. It’s an incredible gift, but also a daily challenge: how can you help them develop their bilingualism without losing their sense of identity?
Raising a bilingual child requires patience, consistency, and above all, a lot of love. Here are a few ways to support them in finding that delicate balance between the language of their host country and the language of their heart.
Speak French at home
Home is often the child’s first linguistic reference point.
Even if school, friends, or media expose them to the local language, it’s essential to keep speaking French at home.
That doesn’t mean forbidding the host country’s language, but rather creating a natural space where French is alive — telling stories about the day, reading a bedtime book, cooking while talking about ingredients…
These everyday moments are the most precious for nurturing both the language and the family bond.
Value both cultures
Bilingual children may sometimes feel they have to “choose” one culture, especially at school.
The goal is to show them that they don’t have to choose — they can embrace both.
Celebrate French holidays while discovering those of the host country, watch cartoons in both languages, cook dishes from both cultures.
This way, the child understands that bilingualism isn’t about separation but a richness that opens the door to two worlds.
Create opportunities to practice French
If the child grows up in a non-French-speaking country, they will naturally tend to adopt the language of the school.
To maintain their French, create as many opportunities to practice as possible:
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organize video calls with family in France,
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watch French-language movies or listen to Francophone songs,
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take part in activities in French (theater, workshops, French libraries),
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spend time with other French-speaking families or attend bilingual schools.
Regular exposure is the key — the more they hear and use the language, the more natural it becomes for them.
Be patient and encouraging
Every child progresses at their own pace. Some will speak both languages very early, while others may temporarily prefer one over the other.
There’s no need to worry if your child sometimes mixes the two languages or searches for words — it’s a normal stage of bilingualism.
What matters most is to encourage them, celebrate their progress, and maintain a positive attitude.
Kindness is far more effective than constant correction.
Read, sing, and dream in French
Stories, songs, and nursery rhymes are wonderful tools for rooting the language in joy.
Even if your child is already attending school in another language, keep this ritual: one book, one song, or one story in French each day.
These moments enrich vocabulary, imagination, and the parent-child bond.
Embrace the natural evolution of bilingualism
Bilingualism isn’t static — it evolves with life stages, environments, and emotions.
During a stay in France, a child may strengthen their French; after a few years abroad, they may prefer the local language.
That’s perfectly normal. The key is to keep the French language alive, even if it sometimes takes a back seat. It remains a part of them — one they will always come back to.
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