Recommendations for Curious Little Minds!
- Marjorie Decriem
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Summer is a time to relax and recharge, but it can also be a special opportunity for families to spark curiosity and encourage meaningful conversations—especially in French!
Curiosity is the driving force behind learning. It pushes us to explore, discover, and adapt to the world around us.
That’s why it’s so important to nurture curiosity in children. From a young age, curiosity shows up in the form of questions, experimentation, and a desire for novelty. These behaviors are essential for cognitive development because they support memory, adaptability, and problem-solving. They’re also critical for social development, encouraging communication, empathy, and shared learning experiences.
Neuroscience has shown that curiosity activates the brain’s reward and motivation circuits, which in turn boosts the desire to keep learning.
These biological processes explain why curiosity is universal and can last a lifetime. However, curiosity can be influenced by a child’s environment, emotional state, and how education and knowledge are valued at home.
So why not take advantage of the summer break to encourage curiosity as a family?
Here are a few French-language resources that we recommend to keep your little explorers engaged and inspired:
🎮 PlayBioviva’s Défis Nature card games are a huge hit in France! Originally focused on animals and biodiversity, the collection has expanded to include topics like sports, mythology, and geography.
Each game takes about 20 minutes and is designed for two or more players. The goal? Use the strongest feature on your card (population, speed, strength...) to win your opponents' cards! Each card also includes fun facts and information. It’s a vacation must-have!
📚 Read
Tuck this treasure of a book into your suitcase for endless summer surprises! Packed with fun facts and unusual tidbits, 100 Infos Insolites sur Notre Planète is perfect for sparking lively family conversations all summer long.
🎧 Listen
For quiet time or long car rides, check out Les P’tits Bateaux on France Inter. This delightful podcast answers real kids' questions with the help of expert guests. Each episode is just 3 minutes long and often silly, surprising, and thought-provoking—perfect for growing curious minds!
📺 Watch For older kids (and nostalgic parents!), Jamy—beloved host of the iconic French educational show C’est pas sorcier—is back! On his YouTube channel Les Epicurieux, he dives into big questions with humor and clarity.
✍️ Write Created by renowned children’s author Susie Morgenstern and beautifully illustrated by Theresa Bronn, Carnet de l’Apprenti Écrivain is a daily writing journal filled with quotes from around the world to spark inspiration. It’s a fun and creative alternative to traditional workbooks, encouraging kids to express themselves in French!
Wishing you a summer full of wonder, laughter, and learning—en français !✨
By Marjorie Decriem,
Youth Literature Mediator and Advisor for the MLF America Network of French Schools Abroad