10 gifts for clever girls in Switzerland

Christmas is approaching, and 2021 has been an eventful year, to say the least. One of the highlights was the 50th anniversary of women’s voting rights in Switzerland.

And in this particular year, we want to give girls in Switzerland an extra dose of inspiration and empowerment. Based on recommendations and our own discoveries, we've compiled this gift guide for clever girls in Switzerland. Spoiler alert: these ideas will surely delight the entire family...

This beautifully illustrated book presents the history of mankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, but from the perspective of an average woman. Could a woman become a pharaoh? Why did Athenian women in ancient times spend all their days at home? Since when have women been allowed to drive cars in France?

Children learn what women's occupations were in the past, what they could decide for themselves, and whether they could get an education or have the career they wanted. A surprising and insightful read!

From 8 years. Available in German and French.

This book offers plenty of inspiration: It celebrates the diverse accomplishments, struggles, and strengths of Swiss women. One-page biographies give readers a glimpse into the lives of fifty Swiss women - both historical and contemporary - who inspire and intrigue.

Each biography is paired with a unique color illustration by Swiss illustrator Mireille Lachausse. Spies, activists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, politicians, athletes, midwives, mothers... Swiss women are daring, ingenious, and brave. Though the country is small, its heroines are grand!

From 10 years. Available in English, German, and French.

This new Swiss print magazine will spark the interest of girls from the age of 8 years. Every other month it discusses many different topics in an age-appropriate and entertaining way: women's rights, climate change, privacy, social media, migration, science, psychology, etc.

It portrays girls and women from all over Switzerland and allows an inside view on what it means to be a girl or woman in Switzerland. Introducing them to positive role models, it encourages its readers to develop a healthy sense of who they are and what they could become while steering clear of gender stereotypes and advertisements.

A subscription to Kaleio is an inspiring gift that offers empowerment for a lifetime. Recommended from 8 years of age, Kaleio is available in German and French.

With this crafting kit by the Swiss creative magazine KILUDO, your girl gets step-by-step instructions on how to assemble her very own painting robot. The robot is fun to make and fun to use. All you need is an AA battery. Like all of KILUDO's crafting boxes, it is designed to spark your kid's creativity and curiosity.

The name KILUDO stems from "kids" and "ludo" which is Latin for "I play". Their credo is to provide kids (and parents) with enriching crafting experiences. Make sure to subscribe to their digital creative magazine with additional ideas for experimenting and crafting.

From 6 years. Available in German. If you're looking for an alternative in English, check out Kiwi Crate, the crafting boxes of KiwiCo.

Swiss women were among the last ones to receive the right to voice their political opinions. But what does it mean to "have a voice"? Why did women have to fight to get the right to vote? How did they win this right? And how are they, in some countries, still fighting for it?

In this book, Swiss author Caroline Stevan traces the history of this struggle for gender equality. From the pioneers of the 18th century to the activists of today, from China to the United States to Switzerland, you will learn what challenges these brave and inspiring women had to face, which was the first country to grant them the right to vote and what is the place of women in politics today.

From 9 years. Available in German and French.

Pepper Mint is a new series of books and science kits by Kosmos. The series is specifically designed for girls and revolves around MINT topics: mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology.

Pepper Mint, the protagonist, is faced with various challenges and has to solve tricky riddles – with courage, brains, and the help of the reader. Together they will learn about solar energy, magnetism, or experiment with gears. In some kits, the young reader can even make Pepper Mint float above the ground or have her whiz across the room in a propeller-driven vehicle!

From 8 years. Available in German. One science kit is also available in English.

Gangster or cop: which side will you choose? Will you play cops to prevent Bandida from escaping, or will you join the dark side to plan her escape? With three different game modes, this card game can be played alone or with family and friends.

The rules are simple, the game is quick to play, but it is not so easy to win: you'll have to cooperate to achieve your goal. As a bonus for those who are already familiar with the best-selling prequel Bandido: use both sets of cards and bring the two lovers together in this special Bonnie and Clyde mode.

From 6 years. Available in English, German and French.

Is your girl the queen of puzzles? In that case, you may be in need of a puzzle with a twist. Ravensburger combines its jigsaw puzzles with the thrilling concept of escape games, thus creating a completely new variant: the escape puzzle. Just like live gamers in their escape rooms, escape puzzlers also dive into an exciting story which spirits them off to mysterious worlds.

Once all pieces are in the right place, the player's imagination, intuition and powers of deduction come into play. Bonus tip: there is an escape puzzle advent calendar. Solve the puzzle of the day to learn which is the puzzle of the next day. Will you make it in time for Christmas?

From 9 years. Available in English, German and French.

Jass is regarded as the national card game in Switzerland. There are various sets of rules, and each family creates new variations. Whichever variation your family prefers, we recommend to play it with this beautifully designed set of cards.

Created in 2021 to mark the 50-year anniversary of women's right to vote in Switzerland, these cards manifest the equality of man and woman in the game. The cards depict women and man of all shapes and colors. The king is also a queen, the lady is also a sir. It's an empowering sight for girls and the entire family.

How you play is how you think – with this set of cards, gender equality is literally in your hands! FREIBLATT is recommended from 6 years of age. The game is available in German, but the rules can easily be looked up in English or French.

Fresh Air Kids Switzerland is the perfect present for curious and brave girls who want to discover Switzerland with their parents.

Thanks to this wittily designed hiking guide you will not only learn in a simple and playful way, the necessary basic knowledge for family-friendly hiking but you will also benefit from a host of activities to make children and parents happy. With these 52 well-thought-out hikes, all you have to do is put on your hiking boots and get started!

Available in English, German, and French.