The participation of France in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began in Lillehammer, Norway, at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004. France Télévisions, a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), are responsible for the selection process of their participation. The first representative to participate for the nation was Thomas Pontier with the song "Si on voulait bien", which finished in sixth place out of eighteen participating entries, achieving a score of seventy-eight points. France withdrew from competing in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest after 2004, and made their return to the contest in , 14 years after. France won the contest for the first time in , when Valentina won with the song "J'imagine".