Meet “Madame Amy”, a local Ottawa Mom who left her career as a French teacher to start 123 Petits Pas Inc. that teaches French to parents and children together.
How did 123 Petits Pas come to be?
While on her maternity leave, Amy hunted for something fun to do with her baby in French.
In speaking with other parents at various playgroups, she found that there was a great interest in raising bilingual children, but that many English-speaking parents, or parents who had learned French as a second language, felt nervous attending parent and child groups geared towards French speakers. Knowing how beneficial those first few years are for language learning, Amy decided to put a workshop together to teach parents basic French in order to introduce the language to their young children as soon as possible. The workshop was such a hit, that she was asked to start weekly playgroups geared towards teaching parents and children French together. This is how 123 Petits Pas came to be! Since January of 2018, 123 Petits Pas has grown to offer a wide range of programming for parents and children ages 0-9 years.
What can you expect in a parent & child French class?
Participants of 123 Petits Pas can expect to learn French through song, movement, and fun activities. The goal is to ensure that the learning environment is engaging and encouraging for both parents and children alike. There are no text books or verb conjugation! From afar, a class might look like a music class, a gymnastics class, or a sensory play workshop. It’s only when you get close enough to hear that you’ll notice everyone is learning French as they play.
What about now, during the pandemic?
For the time being, 123 Petits Pas has moved to continue their parent & child programming online. This has allowed families from anywhere to join them and has also allowed the prices to be very budget-friendly with their “pay what you can” option! Participants meet weekly to practice their French through fun online activities. Not to worry though, the classes are not taught in a way that the children are glued to the screen. Parents and children play, craft, sing, dance, participate in scavenger hunts, sensory play, and much more! They use Madame Amy as their French guide while actively engaging their children in fun and educational activities. There’s also a special program for parents of JK/SK children to complete the Ontario curriculum through our fun activities on their own time.
How to sign up?
There are classes for different age groups starting from parents & babies all the way up to parents & 5-9 year olds. You can find the class that suits your family’s needs best here: https://123petitspas.com/registration/ and feel free to contact Madame Amy via email at info@123petitspas.com
Whether you’re a new parent looking for tips on raising a bilingual baby, a parent looking to homeschool your child this year, or a parent looking to support your child’s French schooling with a fun alternative, Madame Amy ensures all are welcome in 123 Petits Pas’s community. For those looking for free French activities and ideas, be sure to follow her on instagram where she shares French cheat sheets for parents, book suggestions, fun activities with French vocabulary, and much more!
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