French babies/toddlers in Surrey & bilingual book recommendations

[Anneinthegreen]

I am French and trying to bring up 2 children (boy 2 1/2, girl 5mths) bilingual (French/English) in Surrey area. 2 questions:

1. is there anyone out there in the neighbourhood with similar aged children interested in meeting up for French speaking play/story/song time?
2. I have come across a wide variety of books on the subject of bringing up children bilingual, but cannot find decent reviews on them! Does anyone have any recommendations?

The best books I have found are the books by George Saunders, the Australian who raised his three children bilingually (English/german) though neither he nor his wife was a native speaker of German. They are, I think, out of print, but the first one at least is readily available second hand or via inter-library loans (mine cost about a fiver). Although he was a non-native, a lot of his advice seems sound and would hold good for more "conventional" bilingual families too.

There's another one I got from Waterstones between Tottenham court road and Russell Square which was very useful and encouraging, but it's at home - I think it's called "The bilingual family - a handbook for parents" but will check tonight if you like.

PS the branch of Waterstones is significant - i tried the big one on TCR and they specifically directed me to the more "university" one near Russell Square tube. Or you could get it online, I suppose.

Thanks for the recommendations - I'll look them up online!

You're welcome - if any of them tickle your fancy and you actually want to know more about them, get in touch - happy to help.

Incidentally, most of what the books tell you in practical terms can be picked up in 5 minutes and thereafter you just apply it as religiously as possible - the main benefit I found was in terms of moral support and hearing that what I was doing was NOT freakish, WOULD be good for mon petit piaf, and COULD be done if only I stuck at it.

Bonne continuation!

S

Hi Anne, I'd love to meet up for French speaking time with my two kids - they are 6wks and 2 years. My mother lives in Paris, one of my brothers is married to a French woman and so I'd really like my son and daughter to learn the language. I live in South Croydon, is that near you at all?

Hi anneinthegreen,whereabouts are you in surrey? i live in croydon and know quite a few french speaking mums in the area.i also take part in organising a french playgroup called les bambins for children from 0 to 3 years based in chrytal palace.if you want any informations about it please email us at [email protected] meet every saturday.