ENGLISH

INTRODUCING LES PETITS LASCARS

About Us

At Petits Lascars, we’re a passionate group of volunteer parents dedicated to providing children under the age of 6 with a dynamic and enjoyable French-speaking environment. Since our founding in 1992, we’ve been proudly supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Education, offering weekly playgroup sessions across three locations in Auckland.

Our Program

Our sessions are semi-structured, blending free play with guided activities. Each term, we choose a theme around which we plan our activities, making every session a fun and enriching experience. While we use French exclusively during our sessions, we understand that every child is at a unique stage in their language-learning journey.

Language & Learning

To fully immerse children in French, all accompanying adults must be French-speaking, whether as native speakers or second-language learners. We embrace the principles of the ‘Te Whāriki’ early childhood education curriculum, offering a variety of activities such as crafts, songs, and group play — all conducted in French.

We believe that this immersive environment supports the natural process of language acquisition. By interacting with peers and adults in French, children not only practice the language outside of the home but also see it as a living part of the wider community. Our activities also aim to foster cultural identity by introducing children to the traditions and customs of French-speaking countries around the world.

Join the Fun!

Above all, Petits Lascars is about having fun together. We are committed to creating a joyful space where children can learn, grow, and build lasting memories.

WHO WE ARE

Our Management & Community

Petits Lascars is run by a central committee of dedicated volunteer parents who oversee the organisation. The committee meets at least twice a year, and all parents are invited to participate in these meetings to help ensure the smooth running of the group.

Each centre is supported by a team responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the sessions, including planning activities, preparing materials, and organizing outings.

The success of Petits Lascars relies on the collective effort and commitment of everyone involved. We all contribute to creating a welcoming, fun, and family-oriented environment that fosters language learning for all the children in our care.

OUR SESSIONS

Petits Lascars takes operates at 3 locations each week: Glen Innes Playcentre, Hillsborough Playcentre and Takapuna Playcentre.

Our group is perfect for children who are already French-speaking, with the primary goal of the sessions being to encourage French conversation. At least one of the accompanying adults must be able to speak French. Please note that Petits Lascars sessions are exclusively for children under the age of 6.

WHAT TO BRING

We ask each family to bring a piece of fruit to each session, which will be used to prepare our fruit salad around 10:30am. Each centre is equipped with a dedicated nappy-changing area for your convenience.

Remember to bring a hat, sunscreen, and coat, depending on the season! Come prepared to join in the activities, and if you'd like, feel free to bring your lunch to enjoy with us at midday.

THE COST

When you sign up for Petits Lascars, we request a one-time sign-up fee of $20 per family, regardless of how many children participate.

The contribution can be paid either per term or annually, with the same fee applying no matter how many children from your family attend. The fees are as follows:

$30 per term or $100 per year per family for one session per week (for one or more children).
$40 per term or $140 per year per family for unlimited weekly sessions, including Sunday sessions, for one or more children.

Bank transfers can be made to the Petits Lascars account: 06-0241-0956441-04

SESSION SCHEDULE

9:00 / 9:30 – 10:15: Arrival, fruit salad preparation (each adult prepares their own fruit), followed by free play for the children.
10:15 – 10:30: Welcome song, along with other songs and nursery rhymes.
10:30: Fruit salad time for the children.
10:45: Activity or continued free play.
11:30 / 11:45: Tidy-up time.
Afterwards: If you’d like, we have lunch together on-site.

WEEKEND CATCH-UPS

In addition to the regular Sunday playgroup sessions at the Takapuna centre, “Les Lascars du Weekend” meets once per term for special weekend outings. Past activities have included picnics, museum visits, luging, hiking, and train trips, among others.

While “Les Lascars du Weekend” is a bilingual event aimed at French-speaking families in Auckland, we ask that at least one family member is fluent in French. These events are open to children of all ages.