Presents for German- and English-Speaking Children

Looking for a present for a child? Here are some ideas that have a positive side effect: they have the child engage with German and/or English!

• Books for children

  Apart from feeding and keeping your child healthy and safe, reading is one of the most important activities! Reading to your child for 15 minutes per day in the minority language will already have a long and lasting impact. Here are some German and English books that we have at home and would recommend for children between the ages of 2-6 years.

• Ravensburger tiptoi®

Ravensburger tiptoi® is a digital audio learning system. Children can use an electronic pen (den Stift) when interacting with tiptoi® books, games, puzzles, or even a globe. The pen reads the text on the page and/or provides audio sounds that support the text. The pen can even be used as in quiz mode–depending on the book– so children can play interactive games with it about what they see on the pages. Ravensburger offers different book series in tiptoi® format for different age groups, including Bilderbuecher, Endecken und Wissen, Lernspass, Wieso? Weshalb? Warum?, and Leserabe. Among the games, Rechenspass mit Taschengeld is a game that allows in an engaging format to work on numbers and sizes in German.

• Tonie box

  Tonies are an audiosystem for children with German and English audio plays and books. A company in Dusseldorf, Germany makes the Tonie boxes and Tonies. Tonie boxes and Tonies are two parts of an audio system for children. This audio system allows children to listen to a variety of well-known and classic audio plays and books. Additionally, there are Kreativetonies. They come empty and you can record books via an app on your phone for your child.

• Boardgames

  Playing boardgames with your children offers great opportunities to interact with them using the minority language. Many boardgames allow you to focus on certain language aspects in a fun and playful way. For example, just by rolling the die, you can practice counting and numbers. Some games help with building vocabulary by focusing on certain word fields such as colors, fruits, animals etc. Or you can use them to simply expose your children to a piece of minority culture while just having fun. Keeping language acquisition fun and engaging is key so children can build a positive, lasting relationship with the minority language. In a nutshell, playing is the best way for children to get engaged, learn, socialize, and communicate with others. Here are some German and U.S. boardgames that are staples in many households.

• Sing Kinderlieder CDs & DVDs

  Singing is a great way of using language in a playful way, while sharing a piece of culture. “Sing Kinderlieder” started off as a German youtube channel. It is now by far the largest collection of German children songs. In short, they have any song you can think of. If you are not into watching and listening via Youtube, you can also buy their songs on CDs or DVD or download the app.

• Subscription to KINDERBOOKS

  KINDERBOOKS is an online rental for German children’s books. They are based in New York City (hence their domain name: kinderbooks.nyc). You can sign up for one of three plans they offer: basic ($12.50 for two books per month), standard ($18 for 4 books per month), and deluxe ($30). For example, you can sign up for the $12.50-a-month plan. They will also ask you for your child’s interests. You will then get two books that they will choose for you based on your child’s interest. The books will be mailed to you free of charge with a prepaid return label. You can keep the books for as long as you want. However, in order to get a new set of books, you need to return them. You can cancel any time. Check it out: www.kinderbooks.nyc

• Ravensburger activity books 

  “Lernen, Lachen, Selbermachen” is a new booklet series by the German publishing house Ravensburger. The booklets offer short, fun and engaging activities for children to experiment and play with letters and numbers. If your child likes coloring and stickers and is in the process of getting to know letters and numbers in German, give this series a try!