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By Kat Moioli Primary School Kids Group Co-Leader *This article originally appeared in the Fall 2022 Message magazine, which is mailed to all members who live in France. If you are new to the French school system, you may have many questions. Our Primary School Kids Group leader Kat Moioli shares what she learned this year when her son entered CP for the 1st time. Here are her personal tips and tricks : 1.The first challenge was figuring out the items on the school supply list. In the end, we used the website recommended by the school. That way, you know you have the correct items, and you can look for deals on them later. You can also simply go to a big supermarket or order in a bookstore. Some bookstores will offer a deal if you leave the entire list and buy it all from them. In that case, they take care of finding everything for you, and you just pick up the bag when it is ready. It is usually more expensive but a lot less stressful. 2. Go ahead and buy extra supplies right away : pencils, erasers, glue, etc. The children will go through a lot during the school year, so have a stack at home. Get a few pencil sharpeners. If you find a good deal on pencil cases, they seem to need those in all kinds of situations as well. Also buy double sets of markers, pens (especially black, blue and red). 3. Label each item your child brings to school: every pen and pencil, item of clothing. You can use a label machine or websites like - https://www.c-monetiquette.fr/ - https://www.a-qui-s.fr/ Don't let your child take any expensive items to school, and be careful of clothes you really like. They might get ripped or lost. Small trick for coats : add a keychain to the zipper and the name of your child inside. The keychain will help the kids identify their coat. 4. Finding a schoolbag : be aware that some schools will require a specific shape of bag for the CP. You can get a traditional French "cartable" or a regular backpack but check with the school before you buy one as some schools will refuse a backpack. Kids will handle their bags quite roughly, so look for a sturdy bag if you want your child to use it for more than one year. 5. The French Ardoise : An ardoise is a cardboard/plastic “whiteboard” used in French schools. When you get one, try to get extra erasers. I could not find them sold separately, and my son seemed to lose them very fast. Also buy extra ardoise markers as these stop working quickly! Extra tip : buy an extra ardoise to have at home for homework and to practice writing. About the author : Kat Moioli is the mom of James (6) and the co-leader of the Primary School Group. Born in Stockholm, she has lived in many different places such as Texas, Prague and Berlin. She has been living in Paris since 2011. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

By: Rebecca Gulka Teens Group Co-Leader I remember teaching my first 6ème class in France. 15 fresh young faces – surely they were too young? – staring up at me, expecting wisdom on this, their first day of Middle School ("Collège" in the French education system). “I’m sorry,” was all I could offer them. “I don’t know where the canteen is either.” This September, many of your children would have made the transition from primary school into middle school. It’s exciting, but it’s also scary, and hard, and intimidating. Especially in French schools, it seems, where the jump from CM2 (grade 5) to 6ème (grade 6) feels huge, and without preparation. French schools tend to put a lot of emphasis on grades, and your 10 and 11 year olds can feel like they’re expected to hit the ground running right from Day One. The new routines and rules, a new environment that’s bigger and less personal, the increased workload, a new grading metric, new skills to master, the need to be more independent, feeling more anonymous, and on top of that, many of them will be navigating new friends, lost friends, and shifts in their social circles. It’s a lot! We can’t really blame an 11 year old who feels lost, overwhelmed, or not up to the challenge, can we? So how can you help them navigate this new environment with confidence and set them up for success, even as you yourself might be feeling overwhelmed? It’s mostly about being patient, and giving them the space, and time, to rise to the challenge. The First Period The first period of the year – up until the Toussaint Holidays at the end of October – will go by in a blur of forgotten textbooks, missed assignments, stressful homework, and lower-than-expected grades. If you can make it to the first holiday in one piece, you’re doing all right! The first period of Middle School should be about learning how to be in Middle School. That’s it. That’s the only job. If they are in a great environment, your teachers will recognize that too. For the first time, they’re moving between classes, having to remember which books to bring where, and getting to know 6 to 10 new teachers, styles, and classrooms instead of one. Homework, achievement, and grades do not need to be the focus right now, even if your child is feeling pressure from their teachers. How can you help? Talk to your new middle school student about what you expect from them – and what you don’t. Make sure they know that forgotten assignments, or a lower than expected grade, won’t get frustration or disappointment from you. Talk through what the goals are every day, and what a successful day in their first period of Middle School looks like. A good day at the beginning of Middle School is a day when you didn’t get lost, made it to every class on time, had the right books in the right class at the right time, didn’t get completely lost by the subject matter, had time to eat lunch and pee, and had some friendly people to talk to during the day. That’s it. That’s the goal. Celebrate those successes. The rest will follow. Be Patient: Grades Are Not the Priority (Not Yet) The French system puts a lot of emphasis on grades, and on ranking students within a classroom. When you get your grades posted on whatever internal internet system your school is using for grades, agendas, and homework, you’ll often see the moyen (average), lowest, and highest grade posted so you can place yourself within the ranking, and inside the classroom, there is a lot of comparison and competition. They don’t matter yet. They don’t really matter until 4ème or 3ème, when they are preparing for and taking the Brevet. Even though 6ème is a transition year in a very practical sense, it is not a transition year in the French curriculum, and that’s done on purpose. Good to know: France's curriculum is cyclical France’s curriculum is cyclical, taking three years in each cycle to learn, practice, and consolidate knowledge and skills. Cycle 3 includes CM1, CM2, and 6ème – which means that in their classes in 6ème, students are reviewing and consolidating skills they’ve learned over the last two years. The transition into Cycle 4, with new knowledge and skills, begins in 5ème – once they have had a chance to acclimate to Middle School, learn the new systems and higher standard for their work, and develop their confidence and find their place. It ends with the Brevet exam at the end of Middle School, allowing for three years of classes to prepare for that exam. For a lot of 6ème students, a sudden drop in grades in the first 1 or 2 report cards is to be expected, and the grades on the first few report cards are not an indication of future success. Eventually, they stop being distracted by the new routines and friends and environment, and they have time to practice the new skills. They figure Middle School out. Their grades go back up. If you’re not ready for that drop, it can be scary. Parents can misinterpret that as laziness, or a lack of dedication. You can try to solve the problem with consequences, or more homework, or tutors, but at the beginning, that won’t really help. Kids can misinterpret it, lose confidence, think it means they aren’t as smart as they thought they were, disengage because they think they can’t do the work anyway. If you are prepared for it, you can work that into that list of goals and the picture of what a successful day looks like that I mentioned earlier. Give yourselves and your children time to practice and master the new skills they need in their new school, take the pressure off the grades and achievement, and as they build up their new knowledge and confidence, you’ll see those grades come back up naturally – maybe in the second report card for some, maybe not until the beginning of 5ème for others, but whatever the pace, that time is built into the program and the curriculum, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. One thing at a time. Skills That Will Actually Help Them So, if grades aren’t the priority, what will help them in their new environments? There are specific skills and mindsets you can encourage and help them build that will set them up for success in a way that a focus on the number of hours of homework and grades will not. Over the years I have been teaching students in CM2 and 6ème, as they made this transition, I have noticed 5 main skills that can make a huge difference in both achievement and confidence for students. A Growth Mindset Focus on improvements and the process rather than results and grades. If you child gets a 9/20, focus on the fact that it’s higher than the 7/20 they got last week. If they write an essay that’s too short, remind them that it’s longer than the last one they wrote. Focus on those improvements, and the fact that those improvements can continue. Self Awareness An awareness of how they learn, what strategies work for each student, and what they need to do when they are studying can make the difference between frustratingly wasted study time and real progress. How? By being explicit about what study methods or strategies you’re helping them find, and checking in about what is working and what isn’t. Self-Reliance Being able to solve their own problems instead of waiting for a teacher or a parent can make all the difference to a new middle-schooler. How? Don’t do the work for them, even when it’s tempting! Ask them, “What can you do about that?” or “What’s your plan?”, and direct them to resources and tools they can use. Don’t let them off the hook when they blame someone else or shrug their shoulders – there is almost always something they can do to advance or solve the problem. Putting that power to problem solve and affect the outcome can be frustrating at first, but so empowering in the long run. Time Management: For many middle-schoolers, this might be the first time they have to manage their own time, or have enough work to do that it’s necessary. There is a lot of homework, and it’s easy to let it pile up and get overwhelming. How to help? First, by insisting on good use of a large, week by week (those day by day ones are awful) agenda that allows them to plan out their week, not just their night. Students need to be able to take control of their agendas and their schedules, instead of relying on teachers to fill out the digital ones. They need to be able to use the agendas not just as a list of due dates, but as a way to plan out their homework and other commitments. A planning session on Sunday nights for how the week will look goes a long way to developing habits and control. Self-Advocacy This one goes hand in hand with self awareness. I have worked with students who handed in blank papers at the end of an hour, telling me that they didn’t know they were allowed to ask for help. Who were too afraid to tell me they needed the dictionary that was sitting on my desk, or didn’t know they could tell me that they couldn’t see the whiteboard well. Students need to be able identify what they need and ask for it. How? When you are working on those self-awareness skills, you can help your student identify which things they identified they can do on their own, and which things they need to ask for or talk to their teacher about. A student who can ask for what they need is one who is much more likely to get the help, support, and resources they need. The transition into Middle School is a challenge for everybody, and can be incredibly difficult for some. But, with a focus on those five learning skills, and clear goals and patience while making the transition, I am confident that your children (and you!) can make it a successful milestone. *This article originally appeared in the Fall 2022 edition of the Message magazine, which is mailed to all members who live in France. About the author: Rebecca Gulka is a qualified teacher who's been teaching in International and French schools for 15 years. She has spent the last 5 years living in France with her husband and step-son, and has recently started Teaching With Class, an online school focused on English Literacy and Language Arts. All images by Wix unless otherwise noted. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

This post is to help all parents and caregivers who are not fluent in French with adjusting to French childcare, including crèche (daycare/nursery) and assistante maternelle (a qualified professional who watches a few children from their home). If you are new to France or French, you aren't alone. I started my child in crèche when she was a baby, and I had not started French lessons yet. Additionally, this was my first time with childcare so there was a lot to learn. The following list includes vocabulary, phrases, questions and general information about crèches we at Message hope you find useful. Congrats on starting crèche and we hope you and your child(ren) get a lot of benefit from it! Le Vocabulaire de la Crèche / Daycare Vocabulary Accueil / Welcome Le règlement de la crèche / Crèche rules (Explication des heures de ramassage et de retour et des retards, fermetures des crèches pour les jours fériés et vacances scolaires.) Explication du Covid et des mesures de sécurité, notamment lorsqu'une personne différente vient chercher les enfants. Explication des vêtements recommandés pour les enfants et des éléments qu'ils doivent apporter (doudou, tétine, vêtements supplémentaires). Explanation of pickup and drop off times and being late, creche closures for national holidays and school holiday. Explanation of Covid and security measures, especially when having a different person pick up the children. Explanation of recommended clothing for the children and any items they need to bring (doudou, pacifier, extra clothes). Contact / Contact information (adresse postale, adresse mail, numéro de téléphone) (address, email address, telephone number) L'emploi du temps / Schedule of the day Les horaires d'arrivée: Drop off Example public creche drop off hours: 8:00 – 9:30 Le déjeuner: Lunch Ex: 11:00h La sieste: Naptime Ex: 13:00h Goûter: Snacktime Ex: 15:30h Les horaires de départ: Pickup Ex: 16:00 – 18:00h Communication / Communication Des courriels seront envoyés pour informer les parents s'il y a des maladies contagieuses comme la varicelle ou les poux. Pour toute urgence, les parents seront appelés. Le plus souvent, les enfants développent de la fièvre, puis un membre du personnel appelle les parents pour leur demander la permission de donner du Doliprane. Emails will be sent to inform parents if there are any contagious diseases such as chicken pox or lice. For any emergencies, the parents will be called. Most commonly, children develop a fever and then a staff member will call the parents to ask permission to give Doliprane (note: they may also ask you to pick up your child). Les Personnes / People La maman: Mother Le papa: Father La belle- mère: Stepmother (“belle- mère” is also the word for mother- in- law) Le beau-père: Stepfather (“beau- père” is also the word for father -in- law) Les grands-parents : Grandparents Le frèrefrére: Brother La soeur: Sister Les frères et soeurs: Siblings Le/La baby-sitteur: Babysitter Le/La nounou: Nanny La directrice: The crèche manager Les puéricultrices: The childcare workers La cuisinière: The dedicated chef for the crèche Les stagiaires: Students in child development who work at the crèche temporarily as part of their degree requirements. La psychologue: The child psychologist who visits public crèches for a day of observation Psychomotricien: Visits one time per month (in public crèches) to observe children motor development Aide Médico Psychologique : The professional who comes in and helps disabled children Vocabulaire pour la crèche / Creche-related vocabulary Deposer: To drop off Récupérer: To pick up Rangement pour poussettes: Storage for strollers Digicode: The security code at the door Les couvre-chaussures: Shoe covers Exercice d’incendie: Fire drill Commandes / Commands S'il te plaît: Please, when adult is speaking to a child Attention: Careful Doucement: Gently, or slow down Assis-toi: Sit down Lève toi: Stand up Regarde-moi: Look at me Écoute moi: Listen to me Arrête: Stop Descend: Get down La Cuisine / Food Le repas: Meal Le déjeuner: Lunch Le goûter: Snack time and also the snack itself La biberon: Baby bottle La tasse d’apprentissage: Sippy Cup Sevrer un bébé: To wean a baby L'allaitement / allaiter: Breastfeeding/ To Breastfeed Le lait maternel: Breastmilk Le lait/Lolo: Milk La formule bébé: Formula Un verre d'eau: A glass of water La purée: Puree Des morceaux de nourriture: Pieces of food Les allergies alimentaires: Food allergies ex: elle a une allergie aux cacahuètes: she has an allergy to peanuts Être allergique: To be allergic to something ex: elle est allergique aux cacahuètes Menu sans porc: Pork free menu Végétarien: Vegetarian Vêtements et Accessoires / Clothing and Accessories Doudou: A stuffed animal the child will bring to crèche every day for comfort. It is a good idea to buy an extra to help with washing and in case one is lost. This is a very French concept and everyone understands how important a doudou is. Le bavoir: Bib Le body: Bodysuit Le pyjama: Pajamas Le pantalon:Trousers T-shirt: T-Shirt La robe: Dress Les shorts: Shorts Les chaussures: Shoes Les chaussons pour bébé: Baby slippers Les chaussettes: Socks Les chaussettes anti-glisse: Anti-slip socks Le chapeau: Hat Comportement / Behavior Langue des signes de bébé: baby sign language Pleurer: To cry Sucer son pouce: To suck one’s thumb Un rot : A burp Hoquet: hiccups Un renvoi/ un crachouillis: A wet burp Vomir/Un vomit: To throw up/throw up (noun) Sourir /Le sourire: To smile/A smile Se lever: wake up Ramper: To crawl and after Se mettre debout: To stand up, standing S'asseoir indépendamment: To sit independently Marcher: To walk Tombe : To fall Mordre: To bite Faire un câlin/Un câlin: To hug/a hug Embrasser/ Un baiser: To kiss/a kiss Heureux/Content: Happy Fatigué: Tired Triste: Sad Colère: To have a tantrum Dormir: To sleep S'endormir: To fall asleep Un dodo/Une sieste: A nap Se reposer: To rest Pose: To lay down Aïe!: Ow! Boubou: Booboo/Owie/Ouchie Soins Bébé / Baby Care La tétine: Pacifier/Dummy (UK) Une poussette: Stroller/Pram (UK) La couche: Diaper/Nappy (UK) La crème pour de change pour bébé: Diaper cream/Nappy cream(UK) Des lignettes: Baby wipes Le caca: Poop/Poo (UK) Le pipi: Peepee/Wee (UK) Changer la couche: Diaper change Un matelas à langer: Changing mat Propre: Potty trained Apprentissage de la propreté: Potty training Le pot: Potty for children Mouiller son pantalon: To wet one’s pants Sérum physiologique: Saline solution for the nose Doliprane: Paracetamol (Fever medicine) La créme solaire: Sunblock/Suncream (UK) Le zizi: Slang word for penis, but appropriate to use when talking to children, like “willy” in British English La zézette: Slang word for girl genitals, there isn’t really a direct translation to English Santé / Health Avoir de la fièvre: To have a fever ( high or low) ex: Elle a de la fièvre/ She has a fever être rouge: Diaper rash ex: Elle est rouge / She has diaper rash Nez qui coule: A runny nose La diarrhée: Diarrhea/ Diarrhoea (UK) Constipé: Constipated Les poux: Lice La varicelle: Chicken pox L’eczéma: Eczema Maladie pieds-mains-bouche: Hand foot and mouth disease Activities / Toys Jouer: To play Construire: To build Escalader: To climb Courir: To run L’aire de jeu: Playground Le jardin: Garden Peindre/ Un tableau: To paint/ A painting Dessiner/Un dessin: To draw/ A drawing Les jouets: Toys Les blocs: Blocks La poupée: Doll La poussette de poupée: Doll stroller La cuisine ludique: Play kitchen Jeu d'eau: Water play La pâte à modeler: Play dough Le tunnel: Tunnel La toboggan: Slide La balançoire: A swing La voiture: Car Le camion: Truck Le tricycle: Tricycle La draisienne: Balance bike La trottinette: Child’s scooter Un nounours: A teddy bear Looking to connect with other English-speaking parents of young children? Check out our members’ group, Bumps2Babies, for parents who are expecting and/or have young children under three years old. We regularly hold events in the Paris region and have an online discussion page for questions and resources.

As part of our drive towards greater sustainable practices, we are delighted to announce that our highly popular book, The ABCs of Parenting In Paris, will no longer be available in print form. We are updating and sharing the treasure trove of information from the book in a series of detailed articles on this blog. HOUSEHOLD WASTE & RECYCLING BULKY ITEMS/BATTERIES Putting Out the Garbage In Paris, household waste is picked up every day except May 1st, and special green garbage bins are used. Pickup times vary by arrondissement. In Parisian apartment buildings, it is usually the caretaker (gardien) who will put out the communal bins, not the individual tenants. In the suburbs, garbage is normally collected twice a week and in some areas recyclable materials are collected directly from your home on specific days. Large Items There are several options for disposing of cumbersome objects. The city of Paris has a free pick-up service by appointment which can be arranged with a form on the Mairie de Paris website using this Request for removal of bulky items. There are also 250 large bins (caissons) placed around the city from time to time. Call Allô Propreté at 3975, or your individual mairie for an appointment or for information on the current locations of the nearest caissons. Good to know: More than 50% of bulky items end up recycled The bulky objects collected are taken to the recycling center to be sorted and taken back by the various waste streams in order to be recovered. Half of them or their components then find a second life: the wood is transformed into particle board for furniture; scrap metal is used to manufacture metal parts; cardboard and paper are recycled into new cardboard; the mattresses are used to make insulation for the building or sports mats, etc. (Info from the Paris.fr website) Used Car Batteries and Engine Oil These can be disposed of at certain déchetteries, as well as one of a number of specified garages called Relais-Verts-Auto. A complete list of the available locations is on the website www.paris.fr under “Produits dangereux et déchets toxiques”. Small Batteries and Button Batteries These can be recycled at any of the Paris recycling stations, at many collection points in photo and electronic shops such as FNAC and Nature et Découvertes, as well as most supermarkets. Coming soon: a post all about recycling! HOME SAFETY Electricity The domestic electricity supply in France is 220v/50Hz compared with 110v/60Hz in North America and 240v/50Hz in the UK. The 220V system is more powerful than the 110, so you have to be careful. To use electrical appliances from North America in France, it is possible to buy a transformer (transformateur) to reduce the voltage. Adapters (adaptateurs) are also available for non-French plugs. Remember, if you are using a non-French lamp, change the bulb to one that is 220v. Also, remember that non-French electrical items will run slower because of the voltage difference. Adapters and transformers can be bought from any hardware store, including BHV and furniture stores such as Castorama and Ikea. With a transformer or simply an adapter your non-French computer should work in France, however some North American models of printers or computers only work with 110 volts, so feeding them the 220 volts may cause real damage. Consult the manufacturer for more details. If your apartment has outdated wiring, you should probably have it checked out by a specialist. Remember that expenses from any work done to bring your wiring up to modern standards can usually be deducted from your income taxes. If you are renting, discuss the issue with your landlord before beginning any work. Also, if you are living with very small children, remember to buy safety-covers for electrical outlets - these are available in most supermarkets and hardware stores. Safety Assessment Company— Promotelec 0141974222 www.promotelec.com This is an association that comes to your home and evaluates electrical safety and security hazards. They will also verify that any renovations are up to safety codes. Gas The gas distributed by GDF (Gaz de France) does have a smell. Should you suspect a gas leak either in the home or a public place, call the Fire Department (dial 18) and open the windows immediately. For any other problems regarding your gas supply, call the telephone number indicated on your gas bill for emergency repair services (dépannage). Fire If you live in an apartment, check the fire procedure with your gardien (if you have one) and learn what the escape routes are. Have an escape plan and make sure everyone in the family understands what to do. Also make sure you have your heating system checked annually, as well as all the chimneys swept out. This is not only a safety measure—it is also necessary for home insurance. (Many buildings will organize this service, un ramonage, for their tenants once a year. Look for postings in your building to sign up.) Smoke, gas and carbon monoxide detectors, fire blankets and small fire extinguishers suitable for the kitchen can be found at IKEA, BHV, or any other major hardware store. Windows and Balconies For those new to apartment living, the biggest hazard can be the windows. Very few windows have screens and they are often full-size windows that are just too easy to get out of. Do not put furniture in front of windows as it makes it too easy for little ones to climb. Another thing to consider is putting locks or babyproofing window stoppers to prevent access by curious children. If you have radiators under the windows that children could potentially climb, put locks on the windows. If you are lucky enough to have the beautiful Haussmanian balconies, you may want to consider installing a child-safe barrier or netting, as they are very easy to climb! If you wish to install a child-safe barrier on your balcony or window railing, you may need to get permission from the landlord or tenants’ association. Though the request is rarely refused, you may be required to use certain materials or colors and landlords usually do not cover this expense. Protecting the windows and balconies is a good thing to do before you move in! Bathrooms Many Paris apartment buildings have extremely hot tap water. It is unlikely your landlord will lower the temperature, so you must be very vigilant about bath temperatures. If you do control your own water temperature, 50-55 degree Celsius or 120-130 degree Fahrenheit is the recommended maximum for safety. Kitchen European ovens can be less insulated than North American ones, so the outside oven door can be hotter to the touch than you are used to. Something to remember for tiny kitchen helpers! PRACTICAL STUFF Poisons In case of any poison-related emergency, do not give your child anything to drink, including the syrups that induce vomiting, until you have checked with the Poison Control Centre (SOS Anti-Poison) at 01 40 05 48 48. They have English speakers who can handle your call. If the situation is serious, call the SAMU 15 for ambulance assistance. Remember, cleaning products are not the only poisonous things found in a household and you may not notice or be able to understand warning notices on products in French. Keep an eye out for words such as nocif (harmful) or toxique (poisonous). Keys and Locks Most exterior doors to Paris apartments lock automatically when closed, so when the door closes you need a key to get back in even if it is not locked. Another unique feature is that if a key is left in the lock on the inside of the door, it may block a key on the exterior from being used. In both cases, a locksmith (serrurier) will be required to get back in, and as a warning, they are very expensive! It is wise to leave a key with your gardien or a trusted neighbor as a backup. Be careful when selecting a locksmith as apparently there are many that are highly overpriced and, unfortunately, fraud is common. It is best to call your insurance company for recommendations and to check if the cost falls under your policy. Do you have more tips to add? Share them in the comments below! This article was originally published in The ABCs of Parenting In Paris - filled with insiders' tips and practical information, written by a team of experienced parents. Many thanks to all those who contributed their valuable time and effort to the publication of this book. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

Rentree Picnic Sun, Sept 4 Chase away the rentrée blahs and keep the summer vibes going with Message at the Paris New-York Heritage Festival 2022! This is a perfect opportunity to hang out in a cool family-friendly ambiance, in a space dedicated to Message members for our Rentrée Picnic, at Parc André. REGISTER HERE. What is the Festival about? The Paris New York Heritage Festival (PNYH) is much more than a music festival, it is an initiatory journey to the heart of Afro-American music, a true dialogue between past, present and future cultures. The Message Picnic Agenda 12:30 pm Rentrée Picnic (free). Just bring your picnic blankets! Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the event. Outside food is not allowed. There will be a dedicated area for Message members to gather together. Message Kids will be able to sign up for free skateboarding (all gear and materials provided). Soak in the festivities - music, wellness, and a lecture by Shanita Hubbard, Writer in Residence at La Maison Baldwin. 4:00 pm Enjoy concerts, music and dancing in an eco-friendly hay-bale arena. Special rates for Message members and their families! <<<< The festival will also feature a hay-bale arena - an innovative, eco-friendly way to enjoy musical events! For more details, visit the Paris-New York Heritage Festival website. Sunday Music Info: Raashan Ahmad opens the musical program of the day on the theme “Love & Happiness”: a Motown soul funk hip hop afternoon! DJ, rapper, collaborator, Raashan Ahmad (USA) crosses borders. He fuses elements of hip-hop, soul, jazz, funk, world music and other artistic mediums, making him one of the most “evolving, exciting and collaborative” singers ! Pat Kalla and the Super Mojo .Love and happiness with a mix between African culture and French song ... Afrobeat, cumbia, funk, soul, afro-disco on one side and text song on the other! Pat Kalla & the Super Mojo warms hearts, awakens consciences and brings ankylosed legs back to life!

Picard has your back for no-heat cooking. Picard is a French national treasure. An unassuming store full of freezers, with a rotation of seasonal and themed frozen foods that helps power families in France. Indeed, nothing pairs with a French canicule better than a trip to Picard and getting very close to the open ice cream freezer. Now that I have lived in France long enough to become acquainted with both the heatwaves and Picard, one of my learned tricks to surviving summer is no-heat cooking. And there are a lot of Picard items that parents can stock up on for heatwave-friendly meals. Here is a quick roundup of Picard items that can either be thawed in the fridge or heated up in the microwave so as to not turn on the stove or oven in the summer. Disclaimer: since some of these are themed and/or seasonal, not all items may be in stores at the time you are reading this. But the ideas are still there for easy no-heat meals! First up, Picard makes a gaspacho/gazpacho that can be thawed in the fridge. You can find big displays of gaspacho in other French grocery stores as well in the refrigerated produce section. Picard also has a delicious lentil curry soup that can be microwaved (you can look up the difference between soupe and velouté while diving into this hearty goodness). Speaking of lentils, Picard has frozen pre-cooked lentils. Genius. Bonjour cold lentil salad on a hot day! Other French grocery stores also have pre-cooked lentils in shelf stable bags and in the refrigerated produce section. Something that Picard does better than other French grocery stores is its frozen peas. The organic ones always cook up so well, but my toddler prefers to eat them frozen. They can be microwaved with some water and added to that lentil salad you're making. If you want a salad already made for you that only needs to be chucked in the fridge (12 hours in advance), look no further than the Greek salad at Picard! You can also easily make this yourself without heat if you have a bag of pre-cooked rice, and Picard also sells frozen rice. Need lunch tomorrow? If a salmon salad bowl sounds good, put this in the fridge and it will be ready to eat the next day. Picard did all the chopping and prep work for their veggie bowl. Pop it into the microwave and serve with beans and rice. Another great lunch option is the Picard Buddha Bowl, easily microwaved and full of veggie protein. In stock at the moment at Picard is a lot of sushi, buy ahead to thaw in time for dinner. This is more of an idea for a category, because smoothies can be made at home but if you are a busy family in a pinch, grab some of the Picard frozen fruits or these smoothie packs for a quick blended breakfast or goûter. It isn't a trip to Picard without dessert! I held back on this category because a walk through the frozen dessert section (way more than just ice cream) is worthy of its own post. However I had to highlight the fish shaped chocolate ice cream bars which delight kids, and the tubes glacés which are a favorite as well. If anything makes a canicule bearable, it is eating ice cream. Bon appétit! What are your go-to no-heat meals in the summer, Picard or otherwise? This post was not sponsored by Picard but we can dream! Picard, call us! The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

By: Annie In June several years ago, I arrived in France blearily and wearily breastfeeding a four-month-old baby. My husband’s job had been relocated and I didn’t know anything about life in France. We moved into a new apartment building I had never visited before the move, in a city in the suburbs I had never been to before, without a car, and without any local contacts or family (neither of us is French). We were trying to rebuild our life as new residents of France and first-time parents when the canicules, the heat waves, started. It turns out our only windows faced west and got full sun for most of the day and our tiny apartment felt like a furnace. That summer was untenable, the heatwaves were record-breaking, and it was…not fun to put it lightly. However, I now know enough to share my knowledge with other families who might be experiencing their first summer in France and give you some ideas to make it bearable. Here are my tips for caring for a baby during a heatwave: Baby Transportation Tips During Heatwaves What to pack when going out in the heat: When going out with a baby in the summer, some helpful items include: brumisateurs, which are spray water bottles you can find in any French pharmacy or grocery store (store in the fridge and remove just before leaving to make them cold) a handheld electric fan a washcloth soaked in water to lay on the baby’s head and wipe down their limbs, hats for baby and yourself tons of water bottles for drinking for the parents/caregivers. Summer Stroller Tips Babies and sun do not mix, so it is important to always keep babies out of the sun. For safety, never drape a muslin cloth over a baby stroller! It quickly creates an oven-like environment for your baby. Strollers are now sold with umbrella accessories to create shade as you walk instead. Stick to the shady side of the street when walking and if you are sitting down on a terrace, for example, always keep the stroller entirely in the shade. You can also buy baby tents for picnics or the beach. Tips for Baby Wearing in the Summer When babywearing, always dress the baby in one layer less than you would for a stroller, no matter the season because your two bodies heat each other up. In the summer, opt for a warm-temperature baby carrier made with mesh. Dress the baby in a hat and stay in the shade. Continually check their temperature to make sure they aren’t too hot by touching the back of their neck to see if they are sweating and take them out if they are showing signs of overheating. Tips for Taking Public Transportation in the Summer If you can help it, avoid non-airconditioned public transportation with a baby in the summer. Most of the metro of Paris was built way before the invention of air conditioning, and it gets sweltering. Learn which options near you are air-conditioned (looking at you Metro 14) and if you have to go far and there isn’t any air-conditioned public transportation, consider taking a car service to keep your baby cool. The buses and metro lines that aren’t air conditioned are brutally and dangerously hot for vulnerable people like babies, and I would argue, tired, hormonally hot, breastfeeding people. Additionally, plan outings and appointments (and there are so many after you have a baby!) for the morning when it is coolest. If you have to take hot public transportation, spray your baby down regularly and dress them in a single layer. If you are pregnant and have to take hot public transportation, I recommend freezing water bottles and taking them with you to hold against your face and neck throughout the trip. How to Keep a Baby Cool at Home During a Heatwave My first tip, honestly, is to leave during the summer (there is a reason Paris empties out in August!), and my second tip is to get an air conditioning unit if your apartment/home is very hot like our first apartment was. We were hovering between 28-30 degrees around the clock sans air conditioning and it was awful breastfeeding and trying to sleep (even with a fan), and worrying about how to keep my baby cool. Here are my additional tried and true tips for keeping a baby cool inside: Stock up on fans. Fans tend to sell out around the first heatwave of the year, so if you see them in a shop, buy them then. Close your shutters starting when direct sunlight comes inside, to keep your apartment cool. Do not turn on your oven or stove if you can help it, and open your windows at night when the outside air is cooler than your inside air. If you have a north-facing room, spend as much time in it as you can, play with the baby/older kids in there and sleep in there. If you have a multi-story house, consider sleeping on the ground floor to stay cool (a friend told us he does this with his family during the summer). Fill a shallow bucket with some water and place your baby’s feet in it, if you do not want to do a full bath with changes. Do this several times a day to keep the baby cool-they also love the stimulation from water play! Spray the baby with the water bottles throughout the day too. You can also buy water mats for tummy time, and they will also be entertaining and cool for the baby. Sleeping tips: dress the baby in a sleeveless vest, and expect the baby to nap a lot in the afternoon when it is hottest and be a little more restless at night when it is too hot to sleep comfortably. If the baby is breastfeeding, expect the baby to feed more to manage their increased thirst. Additional tip: buy a mosquito net to wrap around the crib, there are no screens in windows here, yet a lot of mosquitos! You can also buy screen material online and tape it to your window frames (we have tried both methods since eventually, the baby can stand up and will pull off a mosquito net). Cool Places to Go out With a Baby in a Heatwave I really struggled to find cool places to take my baby especially when we didn’t have a car. The best option was the local public pool (check hours before you leave). If you can find a spot in a park in the shade with a slight breeze, you are golden. I live outside of Paris, and had a shock to learn the local mall was barely air conditioned (and the bus to get there was not air conditioned!), so you have been warned, French malls are not American malls (if you know you know). If you are looking for dining options, find restaurants that say they have a salle climatisée. Churches are cool and open during the day so if you need a good place to feed the baby, you can always pop into one. Again, my tip would be to get out of town if you can. Don't forget about yourself! Take care of yourself too in a heatwave: if you are breastfeeding, you need even more water than normal. Add breastfeeding during the summer, and you are going to become best friends with your water bottles. It is easy to forget about your needs when keeping children alive, but if you have headaches, dry skin, or other symptoms of dehydration, you have to drink more water. When spraying your baby down, also spray yourself down. When putting a hat on your baby, also put a hat on yourself. Put both your and your baby’s feet in the cool foot bath. Eat easy-to-make, heatwave-friendly meals. Use linen sheets in summer. The more comfortable you are, the easier time you will have caring for your family. For a few summers now we have gone to the beach in Bretagne and it is much more comfortable for our family (a plunge in the ocean helps even when it is hot there). I highly recommend it if you are looking for a French summer holiday that isn’t as hot as other parts of France. What tips do you have for keeping a baby cool in the summer heat?

Welcome to the Message Paris blog! If you are new here, we are a 38 year-old volunteer-run association for English-speaking parents in the Paris region (and France). When our organization was first started in 1984, our communication was all in print form. Since then, we have evolved to communicate additionally with our members via our mobile app, emails, member forum, and now the blog. By using this platform, we aspire to continue our mission to connect parents with resources and tips to survive and thrive in France. Our members come from over 60 countries, and in addition to English, speak over 20 other languages. We love the diversity of our members; for as many members we have, we have as many different kinds of families. For now, our blog team consists of our blog managers, Annie and Rachelle, and the VP of Information Services, Michael. If you want to volunteer on the blog team, you can reach our VP of Volunteer Support at volunteersupport@messageparis.org. There's a few types of content you may expect to see here. Firstly, personal essays by our members, articles, tips etc. related to living and parenting in Paris and France. If you have information you want to post on the blog, email blog@messageparis.org to get in touch! Secondly, we will be sharing updated information from our parenting book, the ABC's of Parenting in Paris. By providing the vital information from this book (put together by our hardworking members) online, we can help both our members and non-members navigate life in France. We will also be sharing more information about the many varied events and activities run by Message, such as our Childbirth & Early Parenting classes and Breastfeeding Education classes (all in English). Being a parent in a foreign country is the intersection of two very challenging life situations: moving to another country, and parenting - but you are not alone. We aim to be a lifeline for you, whether you are new to France, or already a longtime resident; a new parent or an experienced one. We hope you learn something new and we get to meet you at some of our upcoming events! À bientôt!