Parent tips to help children from losing 30 per cent of their French language skills over the summer

OTTAWA, Ontario - June 28, 2022 - PRLog -- If your child isn't fully engaged in French during the summer break, they could lose up to 30 percent of their language skills learned during the academic year, but there are fun easy ways to help them, according to 123 Petits Pas French teacher Amy (Madame) Warr.

Warr makes learning French fun for babies to six-year-olds, and their parents through games and songs. Through Instagram, Warr has attracted 3,000 parents around the globe to her online live or on-demand classes.

She also has a year's worth of French kindergarten for young children living in communities without French teachers. So far, Warr has certified 150 public school teachers across Canada on the 123 Petits Pas or the 123 small steps method that makes learning French fun.

"I make it easy and exciting for babies and children up to six years of age and their parents to learn and remember French," said Warr. "I remember a mother said to me that during a meeting she could understand what someone said in French because of what she learned in my class."

Warr used to be a French immersion teacher in Ottawa before starting 123 Petits Pas. When Warr taught, she discovered that children learned best when she took the time planning fun activities.

She also discovered it's important for parents to be involved with their child's education.

"It helps to develop French skills while parents and their child bond. Also, parents will have a better idea of how their child learns which helps in future learning," said Warr.

When parents take an active role in their child's education, there are better outcomes for children to become bilingual.

"It's also important that children are constantly exposed to French over the summer holidays, so they don't forget what they've learned during the academic year. Here are some parent tips," said Warr.

• Go to the library and find a French storybook and read it to your child.
• Watch French YouTube cartoons.
• Watch a short five-minute video that just focuses on counting or shapes in French to hold their attention.
• Arrange play dates with other children who are also trying to learn French.
• Put together a French music Spotify list and play the music in the background or while driving.
• Arrange an indoor or outdoor French scavenger hunt. This is a great way for children to increase their vocabulary because they won't even realize they're learning new French words while having fun.
• Put together an activity such as making Play-Doh. You and your child can look up and learn the names of the ingredients together to increase your French vocabulary.
• Take one of my parent and child French 123 Petits Pas classes (https://123petitspas.com/registration/).