This month we’re talking about kids shows in French on Amazon.
4 tips to make screen time engaging
Before we start, let me repeat something. Like I mentioned in my last month post about kids shows in French available on Netflix, I do not advocate for long hours of screen time, nor do I judge parents in their choice of screen time policy. Your child won’t learn French just by watching kids shows in French.
That said, if you allow your child to watch some shows in their second language, here are 4 tips to engage them and help with their learning.
- Watch with them. Point objects or things happening in the show in the language you’re teaching them
- Ask them regularly what’s happening in the show.
- Get the books that the show is based on, ideally in the language you’re teaching. Many TV shows are based on books. For example Llama Llama or If you give.
- Reenact your kids favorite TV shows when playing with him, in your language.
Now let’s dive into the topic of the day!
Tumble leaf, a kid show in French about science
Synopsis: This Amazon kids show in French tells the story of Fig, a little blue fox living on an abandoned boat, with his pet caterpillar Stick. Every day he discovers a new object that will make him go on a fun adventure.
Tumble leaf is a great show to teach science in a fun way to your preschooler. Some of the science themes covered in the first season include how light reflects, what makes a kite fly and where honey comes from.
There are 4 seasons available on Amazon Prime in 16 languages.
What I like:
I love that it makes science concepts fun and accessible to my preschooler, in French.
The episodes are short. Each episode contains 2 mini-episodes. The animation style (stop-motion animation) makes the images look realistic yet simple and is a nice change from the usual overstimulating kid cartoons.
If you give a mouse a cookie
Synopsis: The show is based on the “If you give” book series from Laura Numeroff.
The main characters are a little boy named Oliver and his friend, Mouse. There are also Pig, Cat, Dog and Moose; and their human friends Piper, Henry, Leo and Esme Louise. The show revolves around the adventures of the animal gangs and always takes unexpected funny turns.
What I like: The stories are funny. It’s a great complement to the books. It gives me the vibes from cartoons from the 90s. The characters are diverse. It will help your little one learn everyday objects’ names in French.
Pete the cat
Synopsis: This is another kid show in French based on a book. Pete is a cool cat, living with his mom, dad and super cool brother. The show is a musical show. It explores themes like friendship, acceptance of each other and overcoming everyday little challenges in a fun way. Pete the Cat was also a book originally.
What I like: Pete is different. He doesn’t talk most of the time. He communicates with gestures and nods. The show is a great tool to teach your little one about accepting and embracing others even when they are different from us.
Do, Re and Mi, a musical kid show in French
Synopsis: Do, Re and Mi is a musical kid show following three bird friends.
Do is the owl that cannot fly. And his friends are Re and Mi. The show follows the three friends as they explore their island, Beebopsburgh. The show explores themes like being curious, figuring things out, and building new things, friendship, helping each other, and accepting each other as we are.
Every episode contains two mini episodes and has an original song.
What I like: I like how music and rhythm are weaved into the show. I also love how each of the three friends are very different from each other, but still very loving and supportive of each other. I especially like the character of Do, who as an owl is expected to know how to fly but doesn’t and keep trying to learn in each episode.
The stinky dirty show, a kid show in French about trucks
Synopsis: This kid show in French follows the adventures of two trucks who are best friends, Stinky, a garbage truck, and Dirty, a backhoe loader. If your kids love trucks, they will love that one. Along with the main characters, you also get introduced to the fire truck, the boat truck, the dump truck and many more.
The show follows them as they navigate truck problems like how to find your way back in the fog or how to fix a squeaky part. The story is based in San Francisco, which I thought was a cool detail!
There are two seasons available in 16 languages, including French, on Amazon Prime.
The show is based on the “I stink” book series from Kate and Jim McMullan.
What I like: It’s a simple cute kid show. I love that my little one gets to geek out about different types of trucks, especially when we recognize them in real life, in our streets! It’s a fun way to learn truck names in French.
Bonus list of kids shows in French on Amazon Prime
I haven’t watched most of these shows myself (except The snowy day). So I cannot vouch for them, but in case you’re looking for more options of kids shows in French, here there are:
- The snowy day. In our home we love, love, love this holiday special about a little black boy’s joyous adventure on Christmas Eve! And I’m sure some people will find it outrageous that we don’t watch it in its original language, but the songs in French are just as good, at least to me! I know, I’m biased! It’s based on a 1963 book, by Ezra Jack Keats, that I plan to get for the girl one of these days.
- Super wings
- Dino Dana
- Creative galaxy
- Wishenpoof
- Bug diary
That’s it for today friends! I hope you and your little bilingual one enjoy this selection! Next article about kid shows in French will be for kids show available on YouTube.
Until then, let me know what you think about the shows I wrote about so far by sending me an email to backtotheotherland@gmail.com or shoot me a DM on Instagram @backtotheotherland.
See you next time!
Picture: pexels-ketut-subiyanto
