Is French Too Hard for Kids? Not If You Start This Way

Some parents are excited at the thought of their children speaking a second language. Others quietly wonder: “Isn’t French too hard?” The spelling looks confusing. The pronunciation sounds different. And if your child is just 6 or 7 years old, it may feel like too much too soon. But here’s the good news: French isn’t too hard, if you start the right way. In fact, the earlier children start learning, the easier it becomes. The key is to keep it light, playful, and practical. Let’s explore how French can be enjoyable and easy to introduce for young beginners, and what parents can do to support the journey, even if they don’t speak the language themselves.

Why French Feels Difficult, and Why That’s Okay

Parents often compare French to what they experienced in school: grammar-heavy lessons, long lists of verbs, and lots of memorisation. That model doesn’t work well for young kids.

Children need fun, structure, and meaning, not pressure or perfection. What might seem “hard” to an adult (like different sounds or gendered nouns) is often no big deal to a child, especially if they’re introduced through play, stories, and activities. The truth is: kids don’t fear mistakes. They’re used to trying, repeating, and learning by doing. If we meet them at their level, French becomes just another exciting thing to discover.

Start with Speaking, Not Spelling

Many children freeze when they see unfamiliar letters and accents. That’s why the best place to begin is with spoken French, hearing and repeating, not writing.

Young children learn best when they:

• Hear real conversations or songs

• Repeat fun words and phrases

• Link language to actions, pictures, or feelings

  
  

Simple words like “bonjour” (hello), “merci” (thank you), and “au revoir” (goodbye) can be learned through play, songs, or greetings at home. Once your child gets used to the sound of French, the written side will feel more natural later on.

Keep Lessons Short and Engaging

Children have short attention spans. Long lessons or heavy textbooks are not the answer.

Instead, go for bite-sized sessions; 20 to 30 minutes of focused, creative learning is often enough. In our own French Code Crackers summer course, we use a mix of:

• Speaking games

• Word puzzles

• Mini role-plays

• Visual aids

• Themed missions (like “Café Day” or “Spy Week”)

This method keeps learning fun and builds real language skills along the way.

Use What Kids Already Love

Children learn faster when new things are linked to things they already enjoy.

For example:

• If they love pretend play, try setting up a French café or shop at home

• If they like cartoons, show a few minutes of French animation with subtitles

• If they enjoy stories, try a bilingual picture book with audio

When French becomes part of their world, not just a school subject, it feels less like learning and more like discovery.

You Don’t Need to Speak French to Support Your Child

Many parents say, “But I don’t speak French, how can I help?”

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to be the teacher. You just have to be supportive.

You can:

• Practice the new words they learn each day

• Let them “teach you” what they learned

• Ask about their favourite phrase or activity

• Play language games together

• Use the recap sheets or audio prompts provided by the teacher

  
  

Children feel proud when they can explain something to their parents; it gives them confidence and motivation to keep going.

What Your Child Can Learn in Just One Month

With the right support and structure, your child can learn:

• 100+ French words

• Basic phrases like greetings, emotions, and needs

• Simple sentence starters (e.g., Je suis, J’aime, J’ai…)

• Confidence to speak in short, playful dialogues

  
  

That’s what we help kids achieve in our French Code Crackers summer programme.

It’s not about becoming fluent in 4 weeks, it’s about building a joyful foundation that can grow with time.

Final Thoughts

French doesn’t have to be hard, boring, or stressful. Not when it starts with curiosity, fun, and connection. Whether your child has never heard a word of French or just knows a few basics, this summer can be the perfect time to begin, with support, structure, and zero pressure. Our French Code Crackers programme is designed especially for beginners. It’s fun, interactive, and beginner-friendly, with 20 short sessions spread through the month of August. Ready to get started? Register now for our August sessions and give your child a bright start in French, the fun way.