Teach Yourself Spanish for Children

It's great to give your child the gift of being able to speak more than one language; that skill will open many doors for him in the future. But when's the best time to start teaching him Spanish? How can you help him learn, and have fun with it, instead of sending him to a formal class? The most effective ways include home immersion, interactive programs for kids, and adult programs to help you learn the language with your child.

Home Immersion

Your child learns one new language by the time he's about two years old; that's the time when his brain is like a sponge, readily learning almost anything you want to teach him. So the most effective way to help your child learn two languages is by immersing him in both of those languages during this formative time.

If you primarily speak English, but your spouse is fluent in Spanish -- or if you're both bilingual -- have your spouse talk in Spanish as often as possible while you speak in English. This way your child will be learning both languages at the same time. This technique works best for very young children, but even an older child will find this conversational way of learning effective. If your child is older than three and already has a good grasp of English, you can both speak Spanish to him if you're both bilingual.

Try alternating bedtime stories; one of you can read an English storybook with your child one night, and the other reads a Spanish storybook the next.

If neither parent speaks Spanish, consider finding a Spanish-speaking babysitter or nanny who will speak to your child in Spanish for several hours or more every week.

Start with basic words, just as you do with English: greetings, simple objects around the house, body parts, colors, numbers, letters and so on. Say, "Hola!" when you enter the room, "Adios!" when you leave, and "Buenas noches" when you tuck your child into bed. When you give him a bath, point out his "brazo" (arm), "mano" (hand), "cabeza" (head) and "pierna" (leg).

Send your child to school with a note in his lunch box that says, "Te quiero" (I love you). Then for dinner, at least once a week, cook something Mexican or Spanish like tortillas, burritos, tacos, gazpacho or Spanish rice.

Also let your child listen to Spanish CDs of lullabies, nursery rhymes or stories, at home and in the car.

Interactive Programs for Kids

There are many programs and DVDs available that will teach your child Spanish, such as Muzzy from the BBC. They work interactively so that your child can watch the videos and learn Spanish as he's entertained, just like watching a TV program such as "Sesame Street" helps him learn English, spelling and counting.

Some of them also come with flash cards, books and other tools that will help you teach your child by working directly with him. And even though it seems like your child could learn Spanish simply by watching the videos alone, he'll get a lot more out of it if you watch with him, and repeat what's said on screen.

To make learning Spanish special, consider watching the program with your child at the same time each day, and working through it together during this "Spanish Time."

Language Programs for Adults

If you'd like to teach your child Spanish yourself, but you don't know the language yet, this is a perfect time to learn it yourself first. There are many programs available that will teach you Spanish, such as Rosetta Stone or Rocket Languages, or you can buy a high school Spanish textbook and Spanish-English dictionary. As long as you're always a step or two ahead of your child, you'll be able to teach him the language the same way you learned it.

No matter which method you choose, use Spanish stories and games to make it fun, instead of a boring task. For instance, make your own piñata by dipping strips of newspaper in a paste made from flour and water, and covering a balloon with the mixture; when it dries, carefully cut a slit and fill it with candies, coins or small toys, before taping it shut. Let your child paint the outside colorfully or decorate it with bits of bright tissue paper; then hang the piñata with a string, blindfold your child, and have him hit it with a stick. When he breaks it open, go over with him what the prizes are called: "moneda" (coin), "dulce" (candy) or "juguete" (toy).

With a little bit of creativity, soon your child will be begging to learn more Spanish!

References

• How to Teach a Child Spanish
• How to Teach Your Baby Spanish

Resources

• Muzzy Kids
• Rocket Languages Spanish Sample Course
• Rosetta Stone Spanish Language Learning