Snow has fallen and the cold weather has come early this year, but Camp Tournesol can guarantee a happy holiday season sprinkled with la Francophonie!
What’s better than spending time with your family, drinking hot chocolate, creating memorable moments around a book, a movie, or an activity!
Just because school’s out for a few weeks doesn’t mean that your children have to stop improving their French and learning skills. In fact, the winter break is a perfect time to show them how easy and fun it can be to continue practicing their French skills even outside of school.
Of course, the key to effectively learning a language is to bring it outside of the classroom so kids don’t associate the language strictly with school but also with the fun and entertaining aspects of life.
Here are some suggestions from the Camp Tournesol team to entertain your family in French during your well-deserved winter break.
#1: French Holiday Karaoke Songs
Singing holiday music is a must this season! So why not do it in French!
Here is a great playlist of YouTube videos of Christmas carols and other holiday music, all complete with French lyrics so that your child can sing along!
25 Mins of French Christmas Songs for Kids (With Lyrics)
30 Mins of Christmas Carols in French (With Lyrics)
Video Playlist of Winter Songs in French
#2: French Holiday/Winter Books
Nothing better to warm your heart during the cold winter than a good book! This winter break, take advantage of all the opportunities that rough Canadian Winter weather gives us to stay inside and read. It’s an excellent opportunity to practice reading in French with your child! Our expert librarian compiled a list just for our parents:
For children in Grade 1:
Winter themed:
Christmas themed:
- Joyeux Noël, Ollie – Oliver Dunrea
- Fafounet: Alerte au pays du père Noël – Louise D’Aoust
For children in grades 2 and 3
Winter themed:
Christmas themed:
- Un Noël Hanoukka – Sharon Jennings (a beautiful story of children learning each other’s traditions)
- Tous les Noël du monde – Audrey Guiller
- Une grande joie – Kate DiCamillo
- Quel est le secret du Pere Noel – Marla Frazee
- La lettre au père Noël – Christine Palluy/Thomas Baas
- Pas de jouets pour Noël – Kim Norman
- Plume et les cadeaux de Noël–Rebecca Harry
- Le Noël du Hérisson – M. Christina Butler
- Labougeotte apprend à partager – Howard Binkow
- Le Noël du petit Gnouf – Dominique Demers/Gabrielle Grimard
- Les bêtises du père Noël–Louise Tondreau-Levert/Pascale Bourguignon
You can purchase these books on Amazon or at Indigo/Chapters. You can also head to The Librarie Mosaique, a francophone bookstore in the GTA that also has an online store, or visit Il était une fois in Oakville.
You can also find them at your local library, where we’re certain you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of books in French! If you’re still unsure, we’ve also published a list of French Books Your Child Will Want to Read so check that out for even more ideas!
In 2019 we’ve also had the good fortune of a new Astérix comic book! The Astérix comic series has been one of the most popular francophone comic books over the course of its nearly 60 year run out of France. The newest edition, Astérix et La Fille de Vercingétorix, follows our lovable heroes but also features a unique young female heroine that your young girl will certainly relate to. We’ve written up a little blog to help you decide whether your children would be interested in and capable of enjoying this entertaining and hilarious comic series, check it out here!
The Toronto Public Library also offers fun French programs like French story-time for kids, French book clubs, and French conversation circles during the month of December. Click here to discover their plethora of French activities.
#3: Listen to French Radio
Many people would be surprised to know that you can find French language radio right here in the GTA! We’ve found a few stations to toggle onto to practice your French this holiday season, whether you’re relaxing at home or driving through a storm to make it home.
There is CHOQFM 105.1, a francophone radio station that’s been servicing French Torontonians since 2006. The station features a variety of engaging French programs, check it out online and choose one!
Radio Canada has always been one of the leaders in French language programming in Canada, and with good reason. They are known for informative and entertaining quality programs and the Radio Canada Toronto station is no different. They offer programming all day long in French on their channel La Première Chaîne.
If you have teenagers, they might be interested in CKOI 96.9, one of the most popular and hip French radio stations in Montreal.
#4: French Holiday TV and Films
Sometimes your kids just want to watch TV though, and that’s okay! You can still help them on their French journey by introducing them to some terrific francophone holiday TV shows and movies.
Télé-Québec is offering special programming for the holidays or three weeks starting December 16th and of course, all programs are in French. Your child can join Tintin on one of his wild cases or enjoy one of many other fun French shows. No need to brood, there is a program for every mood!
If you decided the Asterix comic series was right for you children, then you’re in luck! As part of their Ciné-Cadeau program, Télé-Québec is screening several of the animated Asterix movies. There is one playing on Monday night, the 16th, and another on Tuesday night, the 17th. Click here to check out their full programming.
Want more French TV?
TFO has a huge repertoire of family-friendly French films, music videos, comedies, cartoons, and much more!
Tou TV is also a fabulous channel where you can catch all the quality French shows they’re enjoying in Quebec! They have a special sections just for children as well as special programming for the holidays as well!
For French-learners in their teens, the Rogers channel Unis or unis.ca on the web has an incredible selection of popular TV programs. If your child is between 7-12 years of age, we would also suggest trying their app, Francolab.
If it’s films your FI student is looking for, you’re in luck as Alliance Française is holding one more Family Movie Thursday on Dec. 19th in Mississauga where they will be showing a French comedy-drama called The African Doctor. For more details, visit the event page.
You can also check out the ONF to take your pick of French animated movies, educational films or documentaries. Need more help choosing? Refer back to our list of the top 35 French films for kids and we won’t steer you wrong!
We’ve also got you covered with a great list of French holiday movies from the good people at Parents Momes that are perfect for children of any age!
#5: French Online Holiday Activities
Pleasure and laughter guaranteed from the comfort of your home! Since kids already spend so much time online, why don’t we try to make that time both educational and fun. There are plenty of great websites that are full of fun French games. Here are some of our favorite holiday themed sites:
A Christmas themed website full of French games and activities for kids!
Tons of Christmas French activities, arts, and crafts, both fun and educational.
French games for every season, including winter/the holidays.
Kids Zone Website by Radio-Canada (CBC) with tons of French games and activities.
Kids and their phones and tablets these days! If you can’t get that device out of your child’s hands, you might as well take a look at our list of great apps that will help your child learn and have fun in French!
Of course, how could we forget the infamous Norad Santa Tracker? The website’s also available in French and includes a bunch of fun activities as well! Just select “French” as the language in the top right corner.
#6: French Holiday Treats
If there’s anytime of the year to treat yourself to some sweet delicacies… it’s definitely the holidays! Of course, kids are always hungry for cookies, pastries, and cakes, so satisfy your sweet tooth during the holidays!
This winter break, take a family trip to a classic French bakery in Toronto and get a taste of French culture and atmosphere.
Here’s a list of the top French bakeries in Toronto.
And two of our favorites are Douce France and Crêpes à Gogo, where you can get a wonderful treat but also order and chat, or “jaser”, in French.
#7: FREE French Holidays Activity Workbook
As a special Christmas bonus for you, we’re also including our very own French worksheet to help your child learn the seasons, colors, and more – all in French.
Download the Winter French Activities Workbook here.
Click here for even more fun and easy French holiday games you can play with your children at home with minimal supplies!
We hope you will find our suggestions useful in helping you enjoy this Holiday season in French.
What French activities will you plan with your child this holiday season? Share your ideas in the comments below.
And don’t forget to tweet this to help out other parents looking for French activities to do with their children this holiday season:
If your child is learning #French – check out this list of family-friendly French activities you can do this holiday season: http://camptl.ca/2AlakK7 @CampTournesol #frenchlearning (click here to tweet)
About Alex Murray: A recent graduate of Ryerson’s prestigious RTA Media program, Alex Murray is a passionate young writer with a variety of topic interests. He also spent four years as a camp counselor for Camp Tournesol and has performed various other duties for the camp as it has grown over the years. A lifelong French immersion student from a French home, he is now a contributing blog writer for the Camp and serves as a Social Media Marketer for the team, among other freelance work. To learn more about Camp Tournesol visit www.campt.ca
Contact Alex Murray at a1murray@ryerson.ca | 905-891-1889
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