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Fun Activities for Early Bilingual Education

SUPPLIES NEEDED

WHAT TO PRACTICE

Let’s sing along with our Little Chickies video to continue their learning of a mother’s nurturing love. Then color and practice writing the letter A.

NOTE TO GROWN UPS

This is a great activity for preschool and kindergarten learners.

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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.

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.

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.

Do you recommend teaching different subjects in different languages?

Parents who live in an English-speaking country need to remember that children are always going to learn English; Their world is in English. It’s important to give kids as much education as possible in the home in Spanish.

We speak Spanish and English in our home but my child almost always answers or talks back in English. How can I go about encouraging her to respond and speak more in Spanish?

Many kids may be in a classroom where they hear English all day. It’s important to encourage your child in a low-pressure way to try speaking in Spanish.

Should I set aside time or create activities for each language or is it okay to mix them?

It’s very important to provide authentic opportunities for children to speak both languages. Allow kids to explore their new language joyfully.

Any advice for households where one parent speaks Spanish and the other English? Can this be confusing for children?

It’s fine if there are two, or even three languages spoken in the household. It’s not confusing; you’re providing kids with a foundation in each language.

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 is crucial in developing social and cognitive skills.

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 creates children who have increased empathy and are better at perspective-taking.

What are some of the cognitive benefits of bilingualism?

Research shows that bilingual brains have better executive functioning in focus, mental multitasking, and working memory.

What are some strategies for raising bilingual children?

  1. Start early: Babies’ brains are sponges; their rapidly forming neural connections allow them to learn languages easier.
  2. Stick with it: If children start to speak their second language instead of their native language at home, don’t give in.
  3. Make it Joyful: Pick movies, music, books, and podcasts in that language.