Staying in Beijing? Books & Toys for Kids Who Can’t Travel

Things are tough for everyone this year. We have lots of freedom within our city but are warned by schools not to travel outside of Beijing in case our low-risk destination becomes a hotspot over the holiday. Of course, there’s no lack of cool things to do and fun ways to spend time in Beijing. But after nearly a year of staying in your home sweet home, it might start to feel a little confining.

Luckily, children have great imaginations, and they don’t need a lot of prompting to travel to faraway places or distant lands. We’ve collected some books and toys to help them through their travels — all available at local Beijing bookstores such as Page One (where these photos were taken).

Lonely Planet Kids: First Words

Nothing says travel like learning a new language. Lonely Planet Kids publishes a whole series of first word books in English, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and more. It’s one word for each page, accompanied by a colorful illustration.

First Sticker Book: New York

Who doesn’t want to visit The Big Apple? I don’t really know why it’s called that, but maybe you’ll find out as your kids — in sticker form — visit that ultimate of big cities, New York.

My Magic Wardrobe

If you want a little magic mixed with fashion, dress up with this magic wardrobe set that can be restuck and reused over and over again. Better yet, it’s bilingual, so it’s also a good way to practice language skills!

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Elephants on Tour

This is not just a travel book, it’s a geography lesson mixed in with a fun search and find the story. The elephants go from Rio de Janeiro to Madagascar to Tokyo and even more places around the globe.

mic-o-mic 3D construction set

What better way to recreate the feeling of travel than building your own vehicles? Sturdy pieces and cool assembly make this set one that your child won’t soon forget. Turn it into a math lesson by calculating how long it would take to get to your favorite destinations via car, fire truck, or helicopter.

Games and activity packs

Sometimes the best parts of vacations are the games you play on the way. Well, who’s to say you can’t indulge in these activities at home? Some take you to space, others to London, and still more are mindful adventures through your imagination.

Graphic novel versions of the world’s favorite books

You can learn a lot about a country through the stories they tell. Take the kids to Paris with a graphic novelization of The Three Musketeers, through a fantasy England in The Adventures of King Arthur, and more.

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Photos: Cindy Marie Jenkins