French parenting

🇫🇷 What is French parenting?

This is not a strict method, nor an official guide. It is rather a philosophy of family life , marked by a few main principles:

1. Clear boundaries, no shouting

French parents set stable frameworks (bedtimes, table rules, politeness, etc.), but without overdramatizing. The idea is not to be authoritarian, but firm and consistent , in a calm manner. Children know what to expect, which reassures them.

2. Respect for adults' time

In this approach, the child is not the center of everything at all times. Parents keep a space for themselves , and children learn to be patient, to play alone, and not to constantly interrupt.

📌 The underlying message: “You are important, but the world doesn’t revolve around you.”

3. Mealtimes, a moment of gentle education

Meals are often eaten together, at set times, without distractions. We learn:

• patience,

• the discovery of new tastes,

• living together.

A simple, but structuring moment.

4. Autonomy, from a young age

Children are encouraged to do things on their own , to explore, to be bored, to resolve small conflicts on their own. Less intervention, more confidence. This promotes their emotional and social development.

Why is this style so fascinating abroad?

🌍 In many countries, such as Canada or the United States, parents often feel under pressure: they have to be 100% available, offer educational activities during every free moment, monitor the children's every move... to the point of forgetting their own well-being.

And then they see French families where:

• children play alone while parents chat quietly,
• parents don't feel guilty about having an aperitif while the children are busy nearby,
• and all this without crises or excesses...

👉 This contrast is surprising: how do these children seem so independent, so calm, while their parents don't seem exhausted?

This is where the fascination begins: this style seems to offer a balance between firmness, freedom and serenity—less exhaustion for parents, more autonomy for children.

A striking contrast to North American parenting, which is often more anxious and focused on the child's performance.

🧘♀️ Less pressure, more confidence

What parents appreciate about this approach:

✅ Less guilt: we don't need to be perfect.

✅ Less control: the child can experiment alone.

✅ More serenity: we set a framework, and we relax the rest.

✅ More family balance: everyone has their place, without being erased.

What if you tried it? Start with a small change: a real family meal, a nap without screens, or an outing where everyone respects each other's rhythm. I've seen it, having lived there, in Europe, the pace of life is very different from here. We would perhaps benefit from putting their philosophy of life into practice, wouldn't we?

You will see: sometimes, doing less… is doing better.

Julie, Lilac Khaki