Babies are never too young to learn a foreign language. At the Little House, we like to incorporate the Spanish language into our daily activities. We offer your little ones an environment where they are listening to music, naming body parts and engaging in play -all in Spanish. This way toddlers are learning a second language by “living it,” rather than using flash cards and memorization techniques which are not as fun or stimulating for them.
It’s easy to integrate language play into your home routine as well. Just as you might point to your nose and say “nose” in English, you can also point and say “nariz,” which is nose in Spanish. You can do the same with food and general activities. If you already speak a second (or third!) language, share that language with your child from the beginning – don’t wait! If you are not well-versed in a second language, it’s never too late for you to learn alongside your little one.
There are loads resources for the Spanish/English learning experience. Here are some we highly recommend:
Spanglishbaby.com is a phenomenal website dedicated to helping parents raise bilingual kids.
And some of our favorite books include:
Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes/Cabeza, Hombros, Piernas, Pies
1. La Oruga Muy Hambrienta, 2. Huevos Verdes Con Jamon and 3. Buenos Noches Luna are three classic kid’s books that are available via amazon, but if you want to support a Portland local business (we do!) Green Bean Books on Alberta St. in Portland also carries a good selection of foreign language books.
Feliz hablando everyone!