Les Pitchounes: Parent and Child Learning French Side by Side, Every Weekend in Dubai

Finding a weekend activity that is fun, indoors and meaningful for a toddler isn’t always easy in Dubai. At Alliance Française Dubai, Les Pitchounes offers something different: a French class where you and your 2 to 3-year-old learn side by side. It isn’t a drop-off class, and parents aren’t just there to watch. You discover French at the same time as your child, taking your first steps in the language together.

What is Les Pitchounes?

Les Pitchounes is a parent-child French class designed for toddlers aged 2 to 3. Sessions take place at the weekend, in a warm and reassuring indoor setting, and are led by a native French teacher.

The class is built for families who don’t speak French at home. Parents don’t need any prior knowledge of the language: they are learners too. The goal is to give both parent and child a gentle, natural first contact with French through play, the senses and creativity, while strengthening the bond between them.

At this age, children absorb sounds, rhythms and words effortlessly. Les Pitchounes turns that natural curiosity into a joyful learning habit that the whole family shares.

Parents learn too: discovering French side by side

What makes Les Pitchounes unique is that the parent isn’t a spectator. During every session, you sing the songs, repeat the words, play the games and create alongside your child. You learn your first French greetings, expressions and vocabulary at the same pace as your little one.

This shared learning has real benefits:

• Your child feels safe and motivated. Seeing you try new words encourages them to do the same.
• You learn French yourself. Many parents enjoy discovering a new language in a relaxed, pressure-free setting.
• French lives on at home. Because you know the same songs and words, you can use them during the week: a “Bonjour !” at breakfast, a nursery rhyme in the car, a story at bedtime.
• You share a meaningful moment. Each session becomes a special weekend ritual that belongs to you and your child.

For your child, French becomes something discovered with you, not an abstract school subject.

How a Les Pitchounes session unfolds

Every session follows the same four-step structure. For toddlers, this predictability matters: familiar rituals help them feel safe, and a child who feels safe is a child who participates.

Check video of the class

1. The welcome ritual

The session opens with a welcome song. Parents and children learn to greet each other and discover their very first everyday expressions, such as “Bonjour !” and “Comment ça va ?”, as well as simple emotions. Singing these words together each week gives everyone a confident, happy start.

2. Discovery and learning

This is the heart of the class. Parent and child explore French through activities adapted to toddlers:

• educational games that introduce new words through movement and play;
• story reading, with pictures and gestures that make meaning clear;
• songs and nursery rhymes that fix vocabulary through rhythm;
• sensory and motor activities that engage sight, hearing and touch.

Learning relies on repetition and interaction. Children and parents hear the same words many times, in many contexts, which is exactly how a language is naturally acquired.

3. The creative activity

Each session includes an arts and crafts activity linked to the theme of the day. Parent and child work together on a small creation, reusing the vocabulary learned earlier in the class. The finished piece often goes home, becoming a small reminder of the words discovered together.

4. The goodbye ritual

The class ends with a closing song to learn how to say goodbye. It wraps up the session in a calm, positive atmosphere and gives children a clear signal that the class is over, until next weekend.

Pedagogical activities that speak to toddlers

At 2 or 3 years old, children don’t learn by sitting still and listening. They learn by touching, moving, singing and imitating, and the adult by their side is their first model. Les Pitchounes is designed around that reality.

An immersive, playful approach to French

Les Pitchounes is a gentle immersion. The teacher speaks French throughout the session, supported by gestures, images, objects and music, so that meaning is always accessible, even for families hearing French for the very first time.

This approach rests on a few key principles:

• Learning side by side: parents and children discover French together, and parents model the words for their child.
• Learning through play and the senses: every new word is attached to an action, a sound or an object.
• Soft immersion: no pressure to speak. Children listen first, then start repeating when they are ready.
• A caring atmosphere: a small, interactive group where every family feels welcome.

A perfect indoor weekend activity in Dubai

Weekends with toddlers in Dubai often mean looking for indoor options, especially during the hotter months. Les Pitchounes combines everything parents look for in a weekend activity: a comfortable indoor space, a structured but playful format, quality time together, and a real learning outcome for both parent and child.

It’s also a first step into a longer journey. As your child grows, they can continue with our French courses for young children aged 3 to 6, then move on to our classes for children aged 7 to 10 and later our French courses for teenagers. During school breaks, our French holiday camps keep the language going through themed weeks full of games, sport and creative activities. You can explore the full range on our Kids & Teens Courses page.

FAQ

What age is Les Pitchounes for?
Les Pitchounes is designed for children aged 2 to 3, who attend together with a parent.

Do I need to speak French to join with my child?
No. The class is designed for non-francophone families. The teacher uses gestures, images and songs to make every word easy to understand for both parents and children.

Do parents learn French too?
Yes. Parents take part in every activity and discover French side by side with their child: they sing, repeat the words, play and create together. Many parents enjoy learning their first French words and expressions at the same time as their little one.

When do the classes take place?
Les Pitchounes sessions are held at the weekend, indoors. You can check the upcoming sessions on the Les Pitchounes page.

What happens during a session?
Each session follows four steps: a welcome song, discovery activities (games, stories, songs and sensory play), a creative arts and crafts activity linked to the theme of the day, and a goodbye song.

Will my toddler really learn French at such a young age?
At 2 to 3 years old, children are especially receptive to new sounds and words. Through repetition, songs and play, they build early listening skills and their first everyday vocabulary, such as greetings and simple expressions.

What comes after Les Pitchounes?
From age 3, children can continue with our French courses for young children (3–6 years), which keep the same playful, sensory approach while gradually building oral comprehension and expression.

Who teaches the class?
Sessions are led by a native French teacher experienced in teaching very young children.