French through Song
Nursery rhymes are how French children first meet their language, sung, repeated, loved. They're perfect for you too: short, forgiving, and impossible to get wrong.
The sung recordings are being made now; the words and the tunes you already half-know work tonight.
First words
Frère Jacques, dormez-vous ?
The one everyone half-knows. Start here, night one.
The words and what they mean →Au clair de la lune, mon ami Pierrot
Slow, gentle, full of the clean vowels that help pronunciation.
The words and what they mean →Fais dodo, Colas mon p’tit frère
The bedtime classic. Doubles as your dodo ritual song.
The words and what they mean →Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman, ce qui cause mon tourment ?
The French song behind Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.
The words and what they mean →Playful
Une souris verte qui courait dans l’herbe
Playful and silly. Toddlers adore the wriggling mouse.
The words and what they mean →Ainsi font, font, font, les petites marionnettes
Hand actions built in. Movement makes the words stick.
Sur le pont d’Avignon, l’on y danse, l’on y danse
A dancing song about a real bridge. Join hands and turn.
The words and what they mean →Growing
You don't need to sing well.
Your child isn't judging your pitch, they're soaking up your voice doing something warm and regular. Speak the rhyme if you'd rather. The words are the point.
Questions & comments
Stuck on a sound? Wondering how this works with your child? Ask here, we read every one, and other parents often have the same question.
Thank you, that's posted for the team to see. We reply to questions by email and add the good ones here.