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 :-)

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:
Say and touch: You say, "frog," and they touch the frog in the book.
Repeat after me: Say the word, and they repeat it.
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:
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).
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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