How I help my bilingual kids to speak more Spanish
As a parent in a multicultural family having my daughters apart of that is more than important to me. I come from a very diverse creole background and my husband has a Mexican background. As a mixed family we definitely wanted to blend our family as best we can so they can enjoy and appreciate all parts of their history. One big part of their history which became a big deal is speaking SPANISH! And Abuela only speaks Spanish so they had to get it together and quick! Because they love grandma!
So! Let’s Jump right into it!
5 ways we helped the girls speak more Spanish
1. Spending time with abuela!
So my husband’s mom doesn’t speak English very well. She only speaks Spanish; So when she would be with the niñas, she would only Speak to them in Español. The niñas did start learning and getting used to understanding español from being with Abuela. They are to a point where they can listen to you in Spanish but will reply to you in inglés. So if you don’t have a family member or friend other than yourself to speak Spanish to your little one it’s okay! There are many other ways to help that transition!
2. Listening and watching children videos and their favorite cartoons in Spanish
My little girls love shimmer and shine, Peppa Pig, and my oldest has grown a liking to blaze and the monster machines as well. I let them watch these shows mostly in Spanish but when they do get to see it on tv it’s in English. I have come to realize that they do understand it in both languages and it helps her repeat things when she gets excited while watching and interacting with the show. So if your child has a liking to a certain show try finding the Spanish version of it. and if you don’t have any cartoon I do recommend finding learning videos and toys in Spanish! We also took that route when they were under a year old.
3. Saying and referring to the things they use daily in English and Spanish.
We also try to incorporate words when we are doing simple tasks. For example, we can be outside and the wind is blowing hard and it will be cold so we would say es frío versus it’s cold. And just interchange it out so she associates the word frío with cold. Or we would say baño when asking if she needs to potty. Or Zapatos when we are looking for shoes. This method has worked the best so far because she feels proud about learning more things and the confidence to teach her little sister when she tries to communicate. This method also works if you are a parent that doesn’t know fluent Spanish but is learning while the kids learn; It’s definitely a great way to practice and learn new words.
4. Read Spanish and Spanglish Children’s books that they love and relate to.
My oldest loves books and enjoys when I read them to her. So we got her some books that she would like and can relate to. One of her favorite books is called Abuela and she loves this book and feels like she relates to it because the girl has the same skin tone and looks similar to her and she loves being with Grandma. This book is a Spanglish book but definitely a great read for kids. She learned a few new words and was able to flex some of the words she already knew which made her super happy. Another book that’s her favorite is Perro Grande, Perro Pequeno. This book is a book written in Spanish and English in one. The English words are first and the Spanish version was written right under the English translation. This book is great for learning big and small and in Spanish as well as new words. Maybe a little more complex for kids 5 and under to read but is definitely a great book for kids and Spanish learners.
5. Do mommy and me small Spanish lessons with them.
So I love brushing up on my Spanish and my kids love joining me during my lessons and it keeps them busy and they love repeating me. I currently practice with Duolingo,pimslur, and memrise. We also play games with colors so they can learn and we also count in English and Spanish. Foot loops or fruit snacks are perfect for activities like that.
Every way of learning is trial and error, so keep trying and you will find what works for you just stay consistent! My kiddos speak Spanglish not fully English but not fully Spanish. So definitely be patient. And if you are starting early don’t get scared of speech delays. It’s hard for a child to comprehend English and Spanish. So their words may get jumbled up a bit when they decide to talk, we definitely been there and believe me it gets easier once they gravitate to a certain language because at that point you will get a good idea of what you need to work or focus on!