Gift ideas for non-English speaking girls, 3 and 6, please!

FatVonD

While on holiday I'm taking DS to meet his paternal Great Grandmother at his Great Uncle's house. GU has 2 daughters so I'd like to take a gift for each of them but I'm stumped for ideas. Does anyone have girls around this age? As they don't speak English books are out of the question as are board games etc.

I'm thinking maybe a pen/pencil set (the sort in a zippered case) for the older girl but I'm really stumped on ideas for the 3-year old.

hngrymummy

What about some pretty hair clips or dress up jewellery in a pretty little bag. Young girls always seem to like pretty sparkly things.

Becles

You could get crayons and a colouring book for the youngest.

If she is anything like my three year old, anything pink and sparkly would be a hit!

Some games should be ok. Dominoes, playing cards for snap etc., ludo, snakes and ladders are all games that can be played in any language.

They might find British sweets interesting. Mine love buying foreign sweets on holiday!

Kittendreich

Bristish sweets a good idea - as would be a 'touristy' soft toy (teddy in a kilt, union jack jumper etc depending on where you are coming from).

Although books are no good as they don't speak English - what about a set of 'flashcard' type things (not sure what they are called, but have a picture and the word e.g. SMILE !) - that will help them learn some English and be something you can play with them...i.e. you teach them the English word, they teach your their word for whatever the picture is.

tiamai_d

Can I ask if there are any cultural issues? Are they planning on learning English?

Colouring in and crafty ideas would be the safest bet. And sweets. Sweets are always good! And everything in a littl ebag, because little girls love little bags!

SkintGypsy

Fancy dress? I have yet to meet a little girl that doesn't like dressing up.

Savvy_Sue

Just wondering what their mother tongue is: you can get bilingual books! We found a lovely one about the Channel Tunnel, which was French one end and English the other, and met in the middle IYSWIM ... it was great for our English friends living in France whose children are bi-lingual.

FatVonD

Thank you all for your ideas, I will definitely take some sweets, I could probably get a big Christmas sized tin to take for the whole family.

Tiamai_D, their dad is Turkish and his mum is from former Yugoslavia.

Sue, love the thought of the Channel Tunnel book being French one end and English the other, that's truly inspired.

I'll be shopping this weekend so I'll let you all know what I come back with!

Thanks again

FatVonD

Kittendreich wrote: »

Although books are no good as they don't speak English - what about a set of 'flashcard' type things (not sure what they are called, but have a picture and the word e.g. SMILE !) - that will help them learn some English and be something you can play with them...i.e. you teach them the English word, they teach your their word for whatever the picture is.

Funnily enough that's more or less how I learned my first few words of Turkish, from anther relatives school book!

Counting_Pennies_2

I would say if you get colouring things, the 3 year old will be just as able to use them too, and no doubt will want the same thing as the older one.

Games are possible to do in other languages. go to your local toy retailer and look for Orchard Toy Games. One is Humpty Dumpty, I am sure the rules are also written in other languages, and apart from the name Humpty Dumpty nothing else is written. That is great fun.

hth

balletshoes

at age 3, I'd agree with others here - anything pink, sparkly, and in a pink sparkly bag - she'll love your forever!! My DD had a pink furry backpack at that age, she was inseperable from it, it carried her toys and little picture books when we went on trips and holidays.