Ballard may be known as a Scandinavian enclave, but one North Beach family is creating a new generation of Francophones right in their own backyard.

Isabelle and Sean Kuhlmeyer haven been operating La Petite Maison, a French immersion preschool, in the home of a north Ballard neighbor for the past year and a half.

The Kuhlmeyers decided to start the school when Isabelle, who is from France, was pregnant with her son Cedric and was having no luck finding a place for him to learn the language before he was 2.

"He has to be able to say, 'Hey, that's my ball' in French on the playground," Isabelle said of Cedric, who will be visiting his cousin in France regularly.

There are a few French immersion preschools and daycares in Seattle, but none close to Ballard, and the Kuhlmeyers said they weren't quite what they were looking for.

Isabelle said they did not want a 25-child school in a commercial space.

La Petite Maison is the realization of that desire. There are five to six children on any given day in the home of the neighbors, who are on a multiyear tour of the globe.

The space could easily pass for any other small preschool. There is an illustrated alphabet on the wall and puzzles and books on shelves. La Petite Maison follows all preschool regulations and even has a parent handbook.

"We wanted to do it right," Isabelle said. "The only real difference is we teach everything in two languages."

Isabelle's point is made perfectly when two of the children begin to fight over a toy.

"French is easy," Isabelle joked. "Sharing is the hard part."

So far, the community has expressed more interest in a French preschool than the Kuhlmeyers expected.

Isabelle said there is a waiting list for the school, even though what Sean calls "the Bush recession" has slightly dampened application numbers.

"That gives you an idea of the interest if we are able to stay open when so many small businesses are closing," Isabelle said.

Isabelle said about 70 percent of parents who enroll their children in La Petitie Maison are Francophones, meaning they speak French.

But, she said that exposing any child to French gives them countless advantages later in life, especially with languages.

La Petite Maison has experienced the same challenges as any other small business, the Kuhlmeyers said. But, it has also had to overcome some unique ones.

Isabelle said finding good employees who are French, not just students of the language, has been difficult.

They interviewed a number of candidates who could speak French well enough for a preschool but would not have passed the "acid test" of the French parents, Sean said.

Isabelle said the challenges were worth it when her son Cedric started speaking French despite her relationship with Sean being in English.

"Seeing him interact and speak French has been the reward for all the hard work," she said.

La Petite Maison is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Kuhlmeyers said they had though about opening an eight-hour daycare, but both have full-time jobs outside of the school.

Parents interested in putting their child on the waiting list can contact the school at info@frenchdaycare.com.

Ed. Note: It has been requested that the address of La Petite Maison not be published for the safety of its students.