Are you an expat who’s expecting? Or do you want to raise your children in a way that appeals to your Francophile sensibilities? There’s been quite a bit of media attention over the last few years regarding French child rearing; apparently French children, more often than not, are well behaved and patient. But how do they manage to do it?

 

1.)    Happy Parents = Happy Parenting

While other parts of the world have adopted the habit of over-parenting, the French try to keep a balance. French parents typically compartmentalize their parenting persona. What this means is that in addition to caring for their children, they realize the importance of “grown up time” and make it a point to spend some time pursuing their own interests instead of focusing solely on their children. This isn’t to say that kids with parents like me aren’t happy or well adjusted. I can objectively say that my daughter, while having the energy of a nuclear power plant, is well behaved (most of the time) and a smiling ray of sunshine. I, on the other hand, am usually pretty run down by the end of the day.  As a mother, and an admitted “helicopter parent” with a propensity to hover, I can really get behind the French on this one.

 

2.)    If Parents can Have Some Alone Time, So can Kids

A big part of being able to carve out some time for yourself is encouraging your children to play by themselves. Sometimes parents can be made to feel guilty for letting their child play alone, but think of it as fostering independence—the French do. The next time you’re on a play date at the park, let the children play while you have a relaxing adult conversation watching from afar; there’s no reason to constantly chase your child around when they are perfectly content to play on their own. Unless, of course, your child is heading towards the park’s exit without you, in which case: GO, MAN, GO!

 

3.)    Teach a Lesson in Patience

 The common belief among the mommies I know is that whether your child has any patience is completely a matter of luck. While this may or may not be true, French parenting philosophy places a lot of importance in teaching a child the act of waiting. It starts at an early age by not picking up a baby the minute they start crying, allowing the baby to learn how to fall back to sleep on its own, and continues into the toddler years by adhering to meal and nap schedules.

 

If I’m being completely honest—I don’t really have a reason not to be—my daughter isn’t on any kind of schedule. At all. I’ve tried repeatedly to get her to wake up and go to bed at more reasonable hours, and the phrase “meal time” doesn’t really mean anything to her; she prefers to graze all day. While I can see the appeal of teaching patience, my daughter’s schooling in that particular subject will have to make use of a different lesson plan. But that’s the point, isn’t it? No one parenting philosophy is going to be right for every child, but looking at the way other parents do things can give you both perspective and inspiration.

 

The last tip isn’t necessarily French, more like a universal rule for parenting:

 

4.)    Do what works best for you, your baby and your family.

 

What other ways are you trying to bring French culture into your life and parenting style? Why not learn French and teach it to your child? For information on lessons you can the professionals at Easy French here. And if you need more incentive, visit our “Why Learn French” page for all the possible incentives for you and your child.