Aux Petits Soins™ – Filling a Cultural Gap in Metro Lansing
My name is Gaëlle and I am a native French speaker. I took time off from work after my first child was born in 2014 to devote to his development. As I began attending local mother-and-baby groups, something unexpected and remarkable happened.
I only speak in French to him because I want him to be bilingual and multicultural, and to my surprise, other parents who heard me speaking to him started asking me if I would speak to their children, too. I didn’t realize how many people in the U.S. were interested in the French language and culture. This gave me the idea to start a French language immersion class for babies.
I buried myself in research reports about the benefits of immersion learning and studied effective teaching strategies. Based on my research, I developed an effective new three-step language immersion system called Listen. Absorb. Speak.™ It was designed to help children and adults learn French the same way they learned their native language. In April 2015, I launched Aux Petits Soins™ (oh puh-TEE swah), a French idiom that means “to take tender care of.” Aux Petits Soins is more than a language center, it’s little slice of Paris right here in Lansing.
A Rapid Expansion
We began with 11-week sessions, using nursery rhymes I learned as a child and creating new songs to fit learning activities. The response was overwhelmingly positive from both children and parents, which inspired me to expand our programs to accommodate children up to age 12. Today, classroom activities range from simple exercises for babies to full-on French conversations for older students.
The growth was rapid. By October 2015, we had outgrown our temporary space and moved into a dedicated teaching center at 1824 E. Michigan Avenue in Lansing.
Adults join in
The demand didn’t stop with kids. In 2017, I launched the Adult Program, combining classroom learning with social events to create an immersive and engaging experience. To welcome this program, we doubled our space, expanding from one suite to two.
A New Chapter
To accommodate even larger classes and new programs, we made another big move. In February 2025, Aux Petits Soins relocated to its current, spacious home at 2824 E. Grand River Avenue.
And we’re not done growing! Whether you’re a parent, student, or lifelong learner, there’s a place for you at Aux Petits Soins. To stay up-to-date with our latest programs and events, here.