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Learning to read in the South of France

Learning to read in the South of France : For me, raising my children bilingually, one of the major keys was igniting their passion for books and learning to read. 📚 Here's what worked for us and some tips to help you along the way! Don't miss the Sunny bank tip below - tell them Antonia from KidooLand sent you :-) 


Learning to read
Learning to read

 

BABIES (0-1 year)

Start early! Reading to your baby every night helps them hear and process phonemes (sounds) as soon as possible. This starts them on the pathway of learning to read.

 

I love board books—they’re durable, wipeable, and perfect for little hands! My absolute favourite from when my son Louis was a baby is still in great condition 18 years later. 😊

 

📖 Top Tip: Look for books where you can trace shapes or letters with your finger—this helps babies begin to understand the flow of a book!

 

TODDLERS & EARLY READERS (2-4 years) learning to read

At this stage, children love repetition (yes, you’ll probably read the same book 50 times 😅). This is completely normal and builds their vocabulary!

 

💡 Favourites at KidooLand:

 

  • We’re Going on a Bear Hunt 🐻

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar 🐛

  • Dear Zoo 🦒

📘 I also highly recommend the Usborne Phonics Readers range. These books use repetition, rhymes, and simple words to make reading fun and engaging.

 

👉 Find them on Usborne’s website: Usborne Phonics Readers


👉 Or check Amazon—they often have discounted sets!

 

HOW TO TEACH READING: METHODS THAT WORK

🔑 Use Multiple Methods:

 

  1. Say and touch: You say, "frog," and they touch the frog in the book.

  2. Repeat after me: Say the word, and they repeat it.

  3. Ask questions: "How many animals are on the page?" "What sound does a frog make?"

📢 Phonics Method:


Language is made up of sounds, so teaching phonics is essential. We use and recommend Jolly Phonics at KidooLand, and they have fantastic videos on YouTube: Jolly Phonics Videos

 

📝 Whole Word Approach:


Encourage curiosity by pointing out words in the environment (e.g., LA POSTE, RAPPEL). Start by sounding out words phonetically, but also teach them to recognise words by sight.

 

💡 Flashcards: Easily available online, flashcards are great for building word recognition skills.

 

STEPPED READING & THE NEXT LEVEL UP

Once your child is confident and enjoying books, keep feeding their passion! Progress to chapter books—these open up a world of adventure and imagination.

 

📚 I personally love the Oxford Reading Tree series, which takes children from beginner to advanced levels. We also use these in KidooLand!

 

WHERE TO BUY BOOKS

💻 Online Options:

 

  • Amazon.fr

  • Marketplace/Ebay

  • Car boot sales and charity shops

📍 Local Gems:


Take your child to The Grange in Sunnybank to choose from a fantastic range of 2nd-hand books for all ages. 📖

 

  • 🕒 Open Thursdays (10-15h) and every 3rd Saturday of the month (10-15h).

  • 🌍 Visit their website


TOP TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL LEARNING

✨ Every child learns differently—don’t compare progress.


✨ Avoid forcing your child; let them choose books that interest them.


✨ If you notice delays or struggles (e.g., difficulty decoding words), speak to your teacher early to get professional advice.

 

I hope these tips inspire you and help you nurture a love for books at home! 📚 Let us know how you get on.

 


 

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