Before you go

France for children

video clips

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movies

games

books

puzzles

articles

Cooking

sites & Apps

video clips to watch before your children go to France

Introduction to French Lifestyle 5:30

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Let’s Take a Journey: France 10:17

The Animated History of France 4:59

Short Stories for Kids: France 5:50

Movies to watch before your children go to france

  • Remy, a rat who loves to cook, finally gets his chance at a fancy French restaurant. Click here for trailer.

  • Orphan Madeline goes on adventures throughout Paris with her friends. Click here for trailer.

  • The cats of Paris escape the cat napper with help from other animals. Click here for trailer.

  • Experiments gone wrong result in a monster unleashed in Paris, but he might not be as dangerous as everyone thought. Click here for trailer.

  • A cat lives a double life, protecting his owner by day and prowling Paris by night. Academy Award Nominee. Click here for trailer.

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  • Hugo, an orphan boy, works on the clocks in the train station, trying to survive, while hiding from the Railway Inspector in the 1930's. Click here for trailer.

Books to read before your children go to France

Preschool -  Elementary

  • The true story of the first giraffe ever to live in Europe. The giraffe journeyed from Egypt to Marseilles, through the towns and villages of France, and all the way to Paris. Her arrival in the capital was celebrated with a splendid royal parade.

  • The country of France has had a profound impact on the world. Young readers can experience the treasures of the Louvre , play hide-and-seek in the gardens of Versailles, or get a bird's-eye view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower.

  • Monsieur Degas likes to paint the students while they practice in ballet class, but one day he mistakenly leaves his bag of paints and instead takes a young ballerina's bag, which contains her new tutu for the evening's recital! She runs through Paris in search of the famous painter.

Elementary - Middle School

  • The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen tells the fascinating story of Louis Blériot and his flight across the English channel in 1909. This delightful picture book depicts Blériot's first encounter with an airship and his subsequent obsession with designing a working airplane.

  • Anatole is a most honorable mouse. When he realizes that humans are upset by mice sampling their leftovers, he is shocked! He must provide for his beloved family–but he is determined to find a way to earn his supper.

  • A pilot crashes in the Sahara Desert and encounters a strange young boy who calls himself the Little Prince. This beautiful French book is one of the best-selling and most translated books of all time, universally cherished by children and adults alike.

  • Hudson, a small dog, narrates his travels from Paris by train to Provence with his human mom. Although a tourist, Hudson tries jobs done by local dogs but finds the magic of Provence in his ability to paint portraits of the canines. Impressionistic paintings glimpse the French countryside and its goings-on.

  • The cat and an old woman have lived happily together for many years by the sea. But when the old woman dies, the cat is packed up with her belongings and sent north to the village where she was born. Soon he is forgotten. He walks the streets aimlessly until, spurred by a longing to return to the place he knows and loves, the cat embarks on a journey to find the home he was taken away from.

  • A lovely book about artist, Claude Monet from the fantastic series, Anholt's Artists Books for Children. Julie lives in Paris, but she longs to walk in a beautiful country garden. When her mother takes her on a visit to rural Giverny, Julie discovers a beautiful garden and befriends the man she believes is the gardener. In fact, he is the garden's owner, the immortal artist Claude Monet.

  • Learn About France For Kids provides facts about France but peppered throughout are interesting "fun facts", cartoons and stories to make learning about France a fun adventure into another culture.

  • In this book of whimsical stories, Fanny recounts some of her most fun-filled adventures with French friends and food. Fanny in France is also a beginner’s cookbook with forty simple, French-inspired recipes. Written by famed chef, Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse in Berkley, CA.

  • Suzanne’s life is shattered in 1940 when a bomb drops on the main square of her town. She clings to the one thing she really loves–singing. As Suzanne travels around for rehearsals, she learns about what the Nazis are doing. Soon Suzanne is a spy fighting for France and risking her own life for freedom.

  • The adventures of four swashbuckling heroes who lived under the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV, reigning during the 17th and 18th centuries. Their daring escapades are played out against a background of intrigue involving the powerful Cardinal Richelieu and the French Court.

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  • The adventures of four swashbuckling heroes who lived under the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV, reigning during the 17th and 18th centuries. Their daring escapades are played out against a background of intrigue involving the powerful Cardinal Richelieu and the French Court. .

  • Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife to two kings, mother to two others, has been waiting in Heaven a long time -- eight centuries, more or less -- to be reunited with her second husband, Henry II of England.

articles to read before your children go to france

National Geographic Kids: French Facts

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Britannica Kids: France

Kids Food Atlas: France

News for Kids: France Current Events

games to play before your children go to france

  • French BINGO helps your children identify Frances symbols. This can be geared to older children by clues given.

  • Construct the vibrant landscape of medieval Carcassonne, complete with cities, roads, monasteries, and fields

  • Learn about France’s rich culture and history, including famous landmarks, holidays, festivals, food, and drinks.

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  • Build the most valuable art collection by trading famous works. The player with the highest-value collections wins.

  • Fun board game that turns language into a game so you don't have to work, write or study. Just play and it comes naturally.

  • Become a Medieval Master Builder and recruit citizens with unique expertise to outsmart your rivals.

  • Traditional French games, perfect for the backyard, with a friend or at a party, will connect children with the French culture.

  • Dive into the rich culture of Impressionism and the Industrial Revolution with iconic elements like street cafes, "Starry Night," Paris boulevards, and Notre Dame.

Puzzles to do before your children go to france

  • Illustrated map of France's landmarks, animals, natural beauty and culture. 152 wooden pieces.

  • 1000 piece tour of France. Favorite sites from all corners of France are highlighted in this puzzle!

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  • 48 piece colorful puzzle that children 4 and up can complete on their own. Perfect pre-travel activity or to bring along!

  • A whimsical “Paris in a day” 1000 piece puzzle. The beautiful illustrations will lead to dreamy conversations of life in France.

  • 1000 piece Paris city scape, highlighting the main sites. Perfect family activity for elementary ages and above.

  • Highly detailed LEGO Paris skyline, featuring the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, and more.

  • Recreate Paris' architecture with a 3d skyline, set to scale with accurate structures and colors.

  • Award winning 4-D multi layer landscape puzzle of Paris. 166 pieces, perfect for ages 7 and above.

recipes to make before your children go to france

  • A typical French breakfast is simple, with breads and jams or the beloved crepe, which can be found in cafes and streets stands throughout the country. Click here for our kid friendly crepe recipe.

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  • A common cafe style lunch is, a croque monsieur or croque madame. They are also perfect for a child’s palate. Click here for the recipes.

  • Steak Frites is the classic informal French meal, which usually bodes well for little travelers. Introduce them a little early with this easy, kid friendly recipe.

  • The French are known for their pastries and desserts. Profiteroles look and sound fancy, but are an easy recipes, just right to make with little hands helping in the kitchen. Click here for the recipe.

websites & apps to view before your children go to france

French children’s songs

Digital Dialects: French Learning Games

Outschool’s France On-line Classes

Gus on the Go Language App.