Aren't you grateful for the ways in which music can enrich bilingual parenting and teaching? When I taught middle school French, I occasionally streamed Radio Junior on my classroom computer, but now that I'm a parent of preschoolers, I've been searching for a French children's station that doesn't feature Disney soundtracks, Katy Perry, and obnoxious DJs mixed in with the French pop and dance hits.

Radio Ouistiti is the best fit I've found: A Switzerland-based web radio station (named for a type of monkey), Ouistiti features French music and stories for ages 0-8. Occasionally they include classic American voices (such as Ella Fitzgerald), but they largely stick to French selections without the preteen pop hits that I prefer my preschoolers avoid. Ouistiti's stories are superbly narrated selections from different cultures, up to ten minutes long, and always in French.

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You can listen to Radio Ouistiti on the go by downloading the Vibration Radios iPhone app (or the Android version). I use a cassette tape adapter to play this station through my car stereo.

I've been far less impressed by other French children's stations, although I was elated when I discovered that Radio Henri Dès has an iPhone app. (Henri Dès is a highly popular French children's musician; his CDs are well-known among French elementary school educators.) Unfortunately the app doesn't stream on my phone, but maybe you'll have better luck.

I've also listened to French children's radio using Spotify by searching for artists such as Aldebert, but the song selections jump to French music for adults and English selections.

What is your favorite children's radio station or musician (in any language)?

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