I think Izzy (age 3) is waiting until she is confident enough to speak and get it right, I sort of get the feeling with her that the right thing to do is to leave her to it and one day she will just speak. I did fret about them not speaking/understanding before they went to school but I had great advice from the wise mums and dads on Franglais Kids (thank you again Tracy!) to not worry about it and they were right. Jasmine (4) now has a wonderful accent and she seems at ease speaking French (to French people) except if I try to coax her when she gets cross with me. I have backed off and leave her to it. I've just enrolled her in a ballet class and she is getting on just fine.
Tonight was lovely though, Jasmine was teaching Maisy (2) numbers first in English then in French. Maisy repeated every word perfectly. It made up for the fact they've taught her to say poo poo caca cake constantly (which I have to keep ignoring or it encourages it!).
Is there a facebook group for english/french speakers in your area? Possibly you could meet up with other mums/dads on there? I've met quite a few parents from SFN in Herault including French/English/American parents where we all want our kids to speak both languages at ease. It's really good as actually having spent so much time in a French environment at school the kids love being able to play and communicate in English at weekends/Wednesdays. I think they do need the 'down time' because can you imagine the headache we would have if we were immersed into the French education system for 7 hours a day?
I remember when we first moved here, dinner parties used to give me a headache and that was before the wine kicked in...its the massive concentration that's required. I think these little people are doing fab.
Gently bring in the French cartoons but if he prefers English then I would say let him choose. I now believe that over time the French will come naturally and soon you will have them saying 'Mummy you can't speak French because you weren't born in France whereas we were'. Cheeky madame. On the name front, I also understand him pronouncing it with the accent. Jasmine I pronounce Jasmin whereas in French it is more like Jasmeeen. When she is saying her name in French she pronounces it proudly as Jasmeeen. It makes me chuckle every time. She just wants to fit in.
In another couple of years I reckon our concern will be how do we keep their English skills up...whereby I will fall upon the advice once again of the Franglais Kids members who are a couple of years ahead of us with their kids and can share all :)