Are you looking for a gift for your grandchild, niece, godchild, or a friend’s child who is growing up with two languages? You would like to give them something they will enjoy, but also something that reflects their family history.
A book in their grandparents’ language? A bilingual game? A gift that reminds them of one of their parents’ home country?
It is a lovely idea. But for the gift to fit into their everyday life, the best place to start is with the child: what they like, what amuses them, and the people they can enjoy it with.
A bilingual child is still a child with their own tastes
Growing up with two languages does not mean they will only want to receive gifts centered around languages.
A child who loves animals may be delighted by a book about the forest in their second language. Another may prefer a card game, a funny story, or materials for creating their own adventures.
Before looking for a “bilingual gift,” ask yourself:
what makes them want to play right now?
Language can then find its place in that world. It becomes a way to enjoy the gift, rather than the subject of forced learning.
Choose according to their proficiency, not just their age
A child can understand a language without speaking it much. They may also speak it every day without yet knowing how to read it.
For a book, the reading level deserves as much attention as the age indicated. A story that an adult can read with them may be more suitable than a book they will have to decipher on their own.
For a game, look at how much space the text takes up. Do the illustrations allow them to participate? Can they start with a few words? Are the rules still accessible if not all the players have the same level?
If you are unsure, one question to the parents is often enough: “In this language, do they prefer to have stories read to them, or have they started reading on their own?”
A bilingual game for sharing a first game together
An illustrated card game can be a great idea when you want to give an activity to enjoy together.
With MEMORA, the bilingual memory game available from age 3, you can start with a small number of pairs. As the game progresses, the images provide an opportunity to find words, hear them, or discover them.
MEMORA is available in French-English, French-Turkish, and French-Spanish.
The bilingual 7 Families game, available in the same language combinations, offers another form of interaction: asking for a card, listening to the answer, and finding the elements of a family.
The goal is not to make them pronounce every word perfectly. It is to have a good reason to talk to each other and play again.
A book that allows them to hear a familiar voice
A picture book can become a very personal gift when accompanied by shared reading.
If you speak the language the child hears less often, you can choose a story that you will enjoy telling them. Your enthusiasm matters: a book that is loved and read together can take on a special place.
Do you live far away? You can arrange a time to read a few pages remotely, or add a recording of your voice, with the parents’ permission.
The gift is no longer limited to the book. It also contains a moment with you.
A handmade gift can be very valuable
It is not necessary to buy an explicitly bilingual item to make room for the family languages.
A small photo album with captions, an illustrated family recipe, or a notebook with the grandparents’ favorite expressions can become a unique gift.
For a young child, a few photos accompanied by simple words may be enough: first names, the family pets, a dish they like, or a place where you meet up.
For an older child, you can tell a family anecdote, explain an expression, or leave pages for them to complete together.
These are gifts that say:
“Here is a little piece of our history, and you are part of it.”
What if you do not speak both languages yourself?
You can absolutely choose a gift related to the child’s bilingualism without mastering both languages.
The easiest thing is to ask the parents which language combination and format would be suitable. For a book, check the language and script used. For a game, see if the images allow them to participate and if pronunciation help is available when you need it.
During the game, you do not have to play the role of the teacher.
You can say: “I do not know this word. Shall we discover it together?”
The child can show you what they know, but they do not have to become your translator every turn either. Everyone should be able to enjoy the moment.
The little note that accompanies the gift also matters
“So you can work on your English” and “For our next games together” do not say the same thing.
Even with good intentions, presenting a gift as a way to catch up or make progress can make it feel like an extra chore.
You can instead write: “I thought of you when I saw this game,” “To discover new stories together,” or “For the next time you come to stay at my house.”
The gift becomes an invitation, not an expectation.
The best gift is the one that finds its place in your relationship
A gift for a bilingual child does not need to give both languages equal time, nor meet all of their parents’ goals.
It can simply make them want to read a story, ask for a card, or tell a memory.
If you can add a little of your time, that is even better. A first game during the holidays, a story over the phone, or a time to discover what happens next: this is what can give the gift a life long after it is opened.
Supporting your child’s bilingualism every day
If you are looking for practical tools to nurture your child’s languages at home, we have created several resources designed for bilingual families:
- MEMORA : our bilingual memory card game, available in French-English, French-Turkish, and French-Spanish. A fun tool for learning and reviewing vocabulary in both languages, from age 3.
- The bilingual 7 Families game : lthe classic reimagined in French-English, French-Turkish, and French-Spanish so you can play as a family while naturally reinforcing vocabulary.
- The guide to bilingualism in the family : a practical guide to understanding how bilingualism works in children and how to best support them every day.
- Our bilingual crosswords! Two languages in each grid, 35 grids, over 700 words, and a difficulty level that increases gradually through the pages (+16 years)
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