Portrait project! ¡Proyecto de retrato!

SUPPLIES NEEDED

• printed activity sheets
• crayons or colored pencils

WHAT TO PRACTICE

Let’s do a self-portrait! El Día del Niño (Children’s Day) is all about celebrating children. Think about all your unique, special qualities with this self-portrait activity.

Weekend Project: Here are some more ideas for celebrating El Día del Niño over the weekend:

1. Do karaoke or have a dance party! In Mexico, they always have big concerts and festivals.
2. Make a DIY piñata at home with paper mache or a cardboard box.
3. Make a traditional treat like pan dulce (sweet bread) or arroz con leche (rice pudding).

Included in this lesson:

Self-portrait activity sheet

NOTE TO GROWN UPS

To help your little ones with the transition back to the school year, have them do a few activities from the Canticos Learning Hub at their desk or at a dining room table to practice doing focused, intentional academic work.

Download Activity Sheet:

Download PDF](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60f5a89e108c2683c870592d/6142e6744e8594b7d1291df2_CT-All_About_Me.pdf)

TAGS

Animals

Art

Customs

Food

Geography

History

Music & Dance

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. I recommend the Canticos Bilingual Preschool App, which gives kids so much exposure through stories, activities, and music, allowing them to learn in an authentic and engaging way, perfect for parents with limited fluency.

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. 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.

If you want to teach something like the solar system to kids, you should teach it in their second language. They will most likely have the opportunity to learn everything in English at school, so by teaching them certain subjects in Spanish, they’ll learn new, specific topic vocabulary that they wouldn’t get the chance to learn in everyday conversation, or even in Spanish class.

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?

Ask your child in a very low-pressure way to try again in Spanish. Try saying “can you tell me that in Spanish?”, framing it like a question and lightly encouraging your child as opposed to demanding. And if it’s clear that they replied in English because they didn’t know the word in Spanish, you can easily demonstrate the correct response or give them new vocabulary so that they know how to say it in Spanish going forward.

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

It’s very important to provide authentic opportunities for children to speak both languages. While parents may feel inclined to set aside “Spanish time’ and “English time”, this often ends up making language learning seem like a chore to kids. Authentic learning opportunities, on the other hand, allow kids to organically find the things they really love in another language, whether through reading, entertainment, music, or movement. Let them pursue what they love which will in turn allow them to joyfully explore their new language.

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.

What are the cognitive benefits of bilingualism?

By introducing your child to a second language early, you are giving them the chance to access the cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Research shows that bilingual brains have better executive functioning in the following areas:

1. Focus
2. Mental multitasking and self-control
3. 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 everything, including languages, much easier.
2. Stick with it: If children start to speak their second language instead of their native language at home, don’t give in and start speaking to them in their native language too; keep at it, it will pay off in the end.
3. Make it Joyful: The best antidote to resistance or lack of motivation around practicing their native language is to make it fun! Pick movies, music, books, and podcasts that they enjoy in that language.

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: It’s easy to learn a second language simply by exposing it to your child.

Reality: When children enter an English-dominant school, even if they grew up speaking another language, they need significant exposure to it (an estimated 30-40%) to keep proficiency in their native language.

3. Misconception: Bilingual children struggle academically.

Reality: 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.