Raising Bilingual Children

Some of the the questions we get asked all the time:

Does your child understand you when you speak English to them? Isn't it hard for them? Don't they get confused?

As parents of bilingual children, we have perfected our answer. It’s simple.

Of course our children understand when we speak our mother tongue.

Of course it’s not hard for them.

Of course they don’t get confused.

Actually, it’s quite the opposite of what many people imagine. Our children are thriving. They see the world through two lenses. They have a profound understanding of words, their meanings, and how to use them to communicate with clarity and purpose—even though they're still so young.

I fell pregnant and gave birth to my son back in 2016, and it felt completely natural to speak to my bump and new-born in English—my mother tongue. I’m British and proud of my heritage. My husband is French, and equally proud of his. When we moved from the UK to Nîmes in the South of France back in 2010, his English was stronger than my French, so English became the default language at home—and it’s remained that way.

We always knew we’d raise our family in France, but we also knew how important it would be for our children to grow up bilingual. We didn’t want them to just learn another language—we wanted them to live it.

Today, both our children speak English and French with ease. They switch between languages without hesitation. One moment, they’re helping me bake banana bread while we chat in English; the next, they’re giggling with their family or friends in French. To them, it’s just normal life.

And what’s more magical? Their love of stories and imagination has become a bridge between these two worlds.

They’re constantly creating characters, inventing games, and acting out stories where one character speaks English and the other answers in French. One moment it’s a superhero in London saving the day, the next it’s a knight in a French château looking for treasure. Their pretend play is a beautiful mix of cultures, languages, and creativity—and it all comes so naturally to them.

Reading plays a powerful role in this bilingual development. When we read together—whether it’s The Gruffalo in English or Le Petit Prince in French—we’re not just enjoying a story. We’re building vocabulary, decoding sounds, discovering cultural nuances, and most importantly, nurturing a shared love for language.

That’s why I created The World of Claire—a space to celebrate stories, language learning, and childhood curiosity. It’s why I wrote Where’s Roméo?, a bilingual adventure book designed to encourage young readers to explore, guess, learn, and grow.

And it’s why I’m passionate about my English workshops here in France—where we sing, play, read, and learn through joy and connection. I want the children I teach and encounter to have a good experience learning another language, I want them to feel inspired and excited. Not all children have the possibility to learn in a fun, engaging way, this is very important for me. Raising Bilingual children, my children was what inspired me to write the book series Where's Roméo book series. Livre d'enfant

Bilingualism isn't a burden for children. It's a gift. And like all gifts, it grows more meaningful when shared.

So the next time someone asks, “Isn’t that confusing for your kids?” Smile. And say, “Not at all. It’s empowering.”

Happy Reading - Bonne Lecture

Claire x

Where's Roméo? Livre souple

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