France Property Guides looks at French family life with tips on how to integrate seamlessly to living in France.
Family life is hugely important to the French. The generations mix much more easily than in the UK with respect for every age being something which seems to come naturally. Children are mainly taught through the state education system, with proper school starting at six years old through to 16 years old. There are also pre-school nurseries and creches for two-years plus. The education system leans much more to the academic side in France and is widely seen as one of the best in the world.
It is quite wonderful to listen to a small child speaking French perfectly to one parent and English perfectly to the other.
In our village there are two schools – the Ecole Maternelle and the Ecole Primaire and we have many British friends who have come to live in France with their young children with very little disruption to their lives. Children adapt far more quickly to new experiences than adults and when it comes to language, they will absorb it like a sponge, particularly at a young age. In fact, any child of six or under will very quickly learn the language without any accent. We have friends who are learning French themselves with the help of their children! We are also friendly with an English/French couple. It is quite wonderful to listen to a small child speaking French perfectly to one parent and English perfectly to the other.
Involving your children in all aspects of your move to France from the start will pay dividends. Look upon it as an adventure and emphasise the plus points of moving to your new French home.
French schooling is top of the class
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Making friends is child’s play
Another positive aspect of moving as a family to France is that you will have a head start when it comes to making new friends. Integrating is so much easier when you’re involved with your children’s schooling and all that goes with it. Inviting the children’s friends around, talking to other parents at the school gate, asking questions and so forth: all of this is important in order to ease you gently into joining in with the community.
Integrating is so much easier when you’re involved with your children’s schooling and all that goes with it
Enrolling your children into your local school should be fairly easy. Introduce yourself to your maire at the start. The maire in France has a great deal of local power and can often be a great source of help, whether it is for finding schools, local artisans, clubs and societies or quite simply for advice on mixing in with village life.
Remember you are not the only ones moving to France with children. Brexit has barely dented the desire of so many British people to move to France, with property sales across the country greater, in fact, than before the EU Referendum.
If you are ready to buy a home in France, Property Guides will be at Your Overseas Home. It’s a new style of property show, where those serious about buying can get answers to detailed questions and introductions to trusted lawyers, agents and currency providers. Click here to apply for FREE tickets to shows this autumn and throughout 2018.
Buying a property in France is extremely exciting, but it can be nerve-wracking: in what ways is the process different to the UK, how do you cope with the language difference, what fees should you expect and just who is the notaire? That’s why we’ve put together our France Buying Guide, to help you through the process, step by step.
Written by experts, it covers every stage of buying, from viewing to contracts and fees. Get your copy of the French Property Guide by simply filling in the form below.
