Educational Toys and French Books Make Great Gifts

Educational toys and French books make great gifts for children ages 3 months to 2 years. These toys teach children the basics of a foreign language, including words, sounds, and music.

Educational toys are designed with specific learning goals in mind. While some of them are quite structured like Montessori knobbed cylinders or object permanence boxes, other toys are more open-ended.

These types of toys help kids hone their problem-solving skills, and they also encourage creativity and imagination. Let’s look at some of them in more detail.

LeapFrog Chat and Count Emoji Phone

Say hello to puppy pal Scout on this Chat and Count Emoji Phone! Similar to a smart phone but built just for toddlers, this role-play smart phone lets kids call Scout, have playful conversations and receive pretend phone calls and voicemail messages. Press the light-up number buttons to explore numbers 0-10 and see the animations come to life on the screen. Kids can also watch cute videos featuring Scout and react to them by adding emojis, just like on social media sites. Dial up the exciting pretend play.

Press the video button to learn more about Scout’s day. Watch cute videos and add emojis that feature sound effects, just like on popular social media sites. Two games are included for more on-the-go excitement. Play songs about counting and phone manners or a playful melody. Includes a microphone, pretend headset and rechargeable battery. Ages 18 months to 3 years. Made in China. Gift Givers: This item ships in its original packaging.

Magnetic Alphabet Colorful Uppercase Educational Toy

Kids learn faster when they’re having fun. Educational toys that pique their interest and help them understand new concepts engage them for longer periods of time and develop their love for learning, which is the best way to boost their intelligence.

These magnetic alphabet letters are a great way to teach your child the basics of the alphabet. They have colorful animal-shaped designs that catch the attention of children and help them associate the letter with a specific object or word that starts with it. This helps them develop basic cognitive ability, color perception and hand-eye coordination.

This award-winning educational toy encourages your toddler to explore the world around them with 16 interactive lessons covering subjects like the alphabet, numbers, colors, weather, animals, emotions, music and transportation. It features beautiful artwork and a touch-screen that’s simple to navigate. The toy also comes with a soft alphabet book and a set of educational flash cards. It’s suitable for children aged three and up.

National Geographic Magical Chemistry Set

With this National Geographic Magical Chemistry Set, children get to be both scientist and magician. This science kit features 15 chemistry experiments that double as magical tricks, such as making a test tube disappear, changing water color, creating a square bubble, and even cleaning up an oil spill. The full-color experiment guide includes illustrated, kid-friendly instructions for each experiment and insight into the science at work.

In addition to teaching chemistry, the National Geographic Magical Chemistry Set also promotes dramatic play and hones fine motor coordination and executive functioning skills. The kit sparks scientific curiosity and introduces kids to fundamental chemical concepts like acid-base reactions, pH litmus changes, and reversible chemical changes.

While some buyers reported minor issues, such as a poorly sealed oil bottle, the majority of reviews were positive. The National Geographic Magical Chemistry Set is a well-received educational toy that encourages creativity and provides excellent value for the money. It’s suitable for ages 8 years and up.

French Flashcards

Kids can learn French vocab and words in a fun way with these flashcards. Designed to be used like musical chairs, you can arrange them in a circle on the floor or on chairs and play music, then when it stops kids need to hop or move around and land on a card. They then need to name the letter, sound or vocab word.

This set of 56 cards introduces basic French vocabulary words in seven different categories: nature, vehicles, market, animals, clothing, colors and home. Each card features a full-color illustration on the front, with the French word and a sentence using the word on the back. Directions as well as suggestions for storytelling and play acting are also included to help develop language skills.

QuickStudy flashcards are a game changer for anyone learning French, from beginners to advanced linguists. They’re a smart way to hotwire your brain into language mastery mode, so you can quickly learn and remember the 1000 most common French words.

French Books

French books is one of the best ways to learn a new language. Children’s books are especially good, as they introduce French vocabulary and culture in an immersive way that is both educational and entertaining. Having your child read the words out loud will also help them retain the new French phrases.

Children’s books include colorful illustrations, fun stories and simple sentences that are easy to understand. They can even be interactive, such as lift-the-flap or pop up books.

Adults can enjoy a variety of French literature, including classic fairy tales like Charles Perrault’s Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood. They can also explore novels such as “Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert, which offers a glimpse into the cultural movement of realism and romanticism that shaped 19th century France.

Readers can also immerse themselves in the adventurous story of “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, which is rich in French history and culture. This novel provides a satisfying immersion in the language while exploring moral, social and political themes that are still relevant today.

French Puzzles

Several fun French educational toys can help kids build cognitive skills, develop fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, patience, recognition and imagination. For example, the LeapFrog Emoji Phone toy helps children learn letters and phrases through a pretend telephone that also has games they can play. It’s also available in a French version and is ideal for language learners from 6 months to 2 years.

Try a mots fleches (arrowwords) puzzle, which are easier than crosswords and allow children to practice the phonotactic rules of their target language. Word games like these will increase a child’s vocabulary and familiarity with their new language.

Nicolas and Fanny, a French couple who lives in Boca Raton, founded My Bulle Toys, a unique store that carries toys imported from France. They specialize in toys that promote cultural learning and language acquisition. They’re a great choice for families who want to turn French learning into a fun family hobby.

French Music

Whether it’s the songs of Serge Gainsbourg or the ethereal voice of Francoise Hardy, French music has an enchanting appeal. These artists helped redefine the era of French pop, incorporating new sounds and styles that influenced future generations.

France has an illustrious musical history that began with court music and chivalrous song in the 10th century. In the 19th century, composers such as Georges Bizet, Jules Massenet, Gabriel Faure and Claude Debussy revitalized the suite and brought back the “Frenchness” of earlier works – a return to the French traditions of directness, concision, clarity of line and elegance.

Later, singers like Johnny Hallyday helped to popularize rock ‘n roll in the 1960s, combining psychedelic and progressive rock sounds with Breton and Celtic folk music. Then, in the 1970s, artists like Jacques Dutronc and France Gall modernized chanson française. Today, many French artists continue to explore new styles and music.