Teaching French at home doesn’t have to be all worksheets and repetition—it can be playful, interactive, and joyful! In fact, the best way for kids to retain a new language is through meaningful experiences, especially when they’re having fun. That’s why I’ve gathered my favorite French games and activities that have worked wonders with my students and that your children will love too.

Whether you’re homeschooling full-time, doing French enrichment after school, or just beginning your bilingual journey, these ideas will help you build a strong foundation—with laughter along the way.

1. Simon dit (Simon Says – en français!)

A classic with a French twist! This is one of the first games I introduce in class because it teaches listening comprehension, action verbs, and body parts.

How to play:

One person is the leader and gives commands starting with “Simon dit…” (“Simon says…”), like:

• “Simon dit touche ta tête.” (Simon says touch your head.)
• “Simon dit saute!” (Simon says jump!)

If the leader doesn’t say “Simon dit” and someone still follows the command, they’re out!

👉 Vocabulary you can introduce:

• la tête (head)
• les épaules (shoulders)
• les genoux (knees)
• les pieds (feet)
• saute (jump), tourne (turn), marche (walk), danse (dance)

2. Bingo en français

Kids love Bingo, and it’s easy to tailor for any French theme: colors, numbers, animals, clothing, etc.

How to use it:

Make or print Bingo cards with French vocabulary pictures and words. As the parent, say the word aloud, and kids have to find it on their board.

💡 Bonus: Ask your child to repeat the word after they find it, building pronunciation skills.

3. French Scavenger Hunt

This game gets kids moving and learning at the same time.

How to do it:

• Write a list of items around the house in French (or use pictures).
• Have your child find each item and say its name aloud in French.

🕵️‍♀️ Example list:

• une chaussure (a shoe)
• un livre (a book)
• une cuillère (a spoon)
• un crayon (a pencil)

You can also theme it: “Find things that are rouge (red)” or “Find 3 items that start with B in French!”

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4. Memory Card Game (Jeu de mémoire)

Make flashcards with images and their French names—two cards for each word—and lay them face down.

Kids take turns flipping two cards at a time to try to find a match. When they do, they say the French word aloud.

This works well with:

• Animals (le chat, le chien, le lapin)
• Food (la pomme, le pain, le fromage)
• Emotions (heureux, triste, fâché)

5. Charades – Mime en français

Kids act out a word or phrase silently while the others guess what it is—in French!

📚 Categories to try:

• French verbs: courir (run), dormir (sleep), lire (read)
• Animals: un lion, un éléphant, un poisson
• Everyday routines: se brosser les dents (brush your teeth), manger (eat)

This encourages vocabulary retention and builds speaking confidence.

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6. Roll and Speak (Jeu de dés)

All you need is a die (or two!). Assign each number a question or topic.

🎲 Example with one die:
1 – Dis ton nom (Say your name)
2 – Dis ton âge (Say your age)
3 – Dis une couleur (Say a color)
4 – Dis un animal (Say an animal)
5 – Dis un fruit (Say a fruit)
6 – Chante une chanson (Sing a song)

This can be used over and over with different themes, and kids love rolling dice!

7. Online French Learning Games

If you’re open to screen time, there are some great websites that make French fun:

• Lalilo (phonics-based reading in French)
• Duolingo Kids
• BBC Bitesize French (for UK users but excellent content)

Just remember—short bursts of engaging use are best for younger children. Pair these with hands-on games for balance.

8. Coloring + Vocabulary

Print French-themed coloring pages (many are free online) with labels in French. As they color, you can talk about:

• les couleurs (colors)
• les objets (items)
• les animaux (animals)

Example: While coloring a “le chien” page, ask “De quelle couleur est le chien?” (What color is the dog?) and encourage a simple answer: “Le chien est brun.”

9. Song + Dance Time!

French songs are magical for memorizing language. Kids pick up new words quickly when they sing and move.

🎵 Try:

• “Tête, épaules, genoux, pieds” (Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes)
• “Alouette, gentille alouette”
• “Frère Jacques”
• “Les couleurs” (search for color songs on YouTube)

💃 Add hand motions or even a mini dance party!

10. Create a French Puppet Show

This one works especially well with siblings or friends.

Help your child create sock puppets or paper stick puppets and let them put on a show using simple French phrases:

• Bonjour, comment ça va?
• Je suis un chien!
• J’aime les bananes!

They’ll learn expressive communication, sentence structure, and new vocabulary—all while having a blast.

Final Tips to Make French Stick Through Play:

✅ Keep sessions short (10–15 minutes at first).
✅ Repeat games often to reinforce vocabulary.
✅ Always model enthusiasm—even if your own French isn’t perfect!
✅ Celebrate effort over accuracy.
✅ Play along with your child—your involvement is the magic.

Ready to Try?

You don’t need to be fluent to make French fun. These games are adaptable, low-prep, and high-impact—designed to make language a natural part of your child’s world.

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