Encantos - Stories with purpose inspired by culture

Easter Coloring Sheets

SUPPLIES NEEDED

WHAT TO PRACTICE

Get in the holiday spirit by singing along with the Canticos Jingle Bells video. See what new holiday-inspired words your child can identify as they color; tree, star, ornament.

NOTE TO GROWN UPS

Encourage your kids to explore different colors as they shade in their activity sheets. Can they name each of the colors they’re using in English and Spanish? Use the Canticos video “All the Colors / De Colores” to help with vocabulary.

Download Activity Sheet:

Download PDF](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60f5a89e108c2683c870592d/6142e8cd59e5dd45c79737c1_CT-EasterColoringSheets.pdf)

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Ask a Bilingual Expert

Raising a bilingual child? On this page, our very own Director of Learning Design and Efficacy, Sophia Espinoza, addresses some of the most common questions, concerns, and curiosities around the benefits of bilingualism. Get the scoop below!

Sophia Espinoza is a career educator and curriculum designer with seven years of experience teaching in private and independent schools across the country. She is an expert in 21st-century education, including technologically-powered personalization, multilingual and multicultural curriculums, and social-emotional learning.

Benefits of Bilingualism (FAQs):

Any advice on managing two Spanish dialects in the household? Does this cause confusion for kids?

Now that our world is more interconnected than ever, there are plenty of families where each parent could be from a different country in Latin America, with distinctive dialects, vocabulary, slang, and culture. And that’s totally ok for kids to be exposed to. Their perspectives are broadened and they learn to communicate cross-culturally, it’s a thing to be celebrated. Sometimes kids may switch vocabulary when talking to different parents, which is absolutely fine. They’re not confused, if anything this shows their flexibility. They could have as many as five words for one item, three in Spanish two in English, giving them a stronger sense of language in general. For parents that may feel the need to find a neutral ground with their native dialects, not to worry, all research says that you want to encourage and expose children to different languages.

What do you recommend if I’m not completely fluent and my child’s school doesn’t have an immersion class?

I always encourage as much Spanish exposure as possible. Don’t worry about immersion classes availability or not being completely fluent as a parent. Use the Spanish you know, even if you may need to speak Spanglish, I sometimes only know a word in Spanish or vice versa, which is totally okay. This won’t be confusing to your child, in fact, you’re giving them more opportunities to practice Spanish. Try to find ways to fill the gaps in your language knowledge, through apps, books, and music. ...

Do you recommend teaching different subjects in different languages? For example, the solar system in English and the days of the week in Spanish? Or is it better for kids to try to learn in both languages all the time?

Parents who live in an English-speaking country need to remember that children are always going to learn English; Their world is in English, their peers speak English, even if they’re doing dual immersion programs, they are still going to school in English. I know that many native Spanish-speaking parents want their children to learn English because they want them to do well in school and feel that it’s important for their future. However, though it can feel a little counterintuitive, it’s important to give kids as much education as possible in the home in Spanish. They will inevitably learn English, and it will be even better if they learn their native language first, a strong foundation in Spanish will help kids gain a stronger mastery of English.

How can my child learn language through play?

Play-based learning in children aged PreK/K should take the form of pretend play. Pretend play, where prompts and props are used to spark an imaginative game or scenario, are crucial in not only developing social skills but cognitive skills too. When combined with learning a new language, children are eager and excited to communicate in their new vocabulary.

What are the social and cultural benefits of bilingualism?

Learning a new language goes hand in hand with learning about that language’s culture. It’s an opportunity to tap into the food, customs, stories, and other aspects of culture new to your child. Additionally, children who are bilingual can communicate with more people, bridging a gap between their world and the world of others. Hand in hand these two things create children who, studies have shown, have increased empathy and are better at perspective-taking.

What are some common misconceptions about raising bilingual children?

  1. Misconception: Learning two languages can be confusing for children. Reality: Because the brain activates all the languages a child knows at once, sometimes they speak in a jumbled-sounding way; but this doesn’t mean they are confused, they are simply still developing proficiency in each language.

  2. Misconception: Bilingual children struggle academically. Reality: Children are learning languages simultaneously. They may know a lot, but it is scattered across all their languages, so it might not be so clear if they are given an assessment in just one language. Keep in mind that though things like vocabulary and reading are slow to start, eventually they are much better off because they become proficient in two whole languages.