Becky's April Picks
Have you every tried to teach your child something, only to find that he/she couldn’t care less? There isn’t a parent out there who hasn’t been in this situation. But there is a trick – disguise the learning as fun. Find something your child enjoys and turn it into an opportunity. Make up silly songs that practice rhyming. Role play what to do if there is an emergency. Count the number of times your child can catch a ball. Simple? Yes. Fun? You bet. And it’s learning in disguise.
 Telepaths
This is a great family game that is a real vocabulary builder – and it’s trilingual. Team members write words that relate to the picture or word on the card drawn. For every matching response the team advances on the board. The instructions and game cards come in English, French, and Spanish, but the game can easily be modified to play in another language if desired. It is recommended for 4 or more players, ages 8 years and up.
 Learning Chinese & English Together
I really like this DVD for a number of reasons. First of all, it was created by a mom like us. Wanting to connect her daughter with her heritage, she produced a product she found missing from the marketplace. I have to support that! Then, of course, there is the wonderful quality. The images are real life and actually represent the words being taught. The same 20-minute program is on the DVD three times: once in English, once in Chinese, and once bilingually. The benefit of this is that you can introduce both languages simultaneously or immerse in one language and continue to reinforce it.
 J’apprends á lire l’heure – Learning How to Read the Time
My kids both love this sturdy, wooden clock from Vilac of France. It is the perfect size for little hands and little laps and light enough to for them to carry with the attached strap. The hands move freely, and each is a different color which makes them easier to distinguish. Around the face the minutes are written in increments of five and, for the second half of the hour, negative fives. This is helpful for teaching “10 minutes to eight” or “huit heure moins dix.” The abacus on the bottom reinforces counting to twelve.
Los osos ortográficos – The Spelling Bears
 From Spain, The Spelling Bears is a game that helps kids practice and reinforce the spelling of words that do not follow the rules, focusing on those that include g/j, b/v, ll/y, or h. The rules and game play are entirely in Spanish, so it is necessary to be able to read and speak it; the suggested age range is 6-8 years. There are two different ways to play, and the game includes game board, dice, 4 bear game pieces, 4 vocabulary cards, and a handy plastic storage/carrying case.
All of the items I have chosen for this month’s recommendations fit the bill. Children love to watch other children, so sneak in a little Chinese, too. Spend quality time together as a family and work on developing your English, French, or Spanish vocabulary. Bears that spell - Who knew? Or set a timer and quiz your little one on how many times she can read the clock before the alarm sounds.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. What language games do you use? Is there a particular kind of toy that would help raise your child to be bilingual or multilingual? Contact me at becky@biculturalfamily.org and share it. I’ll try to use your suggestions in future newsletters.
Until next time – Bon Voyage!
Becky Dolan
MagellansToyShop.com
Read Becky's other Monthly recommendations...
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