Tips for Parents 9 Ways to Teach Spanish to Your Toddler

Tips for Parents 9 Ways to Teach Spanish to Your Toddler Sign up successful 3. Watch Spanish TV and Movies Kids learn a lot of language through watching children’s TV shows and movies, and watching television in Spanish provides the exact same benefits. If you dont get Spanish language channels on your TV, you can select Spanish audio on DVDs, use YouTube videos, or find movies in Spanish for kids on Netflix. 4. Play Outdoor Counting Games Teach your toddler numbers in Spanish by playing any outdoor games that involves counting, such as catch, jump rope, hopscotch, or soccer. 5. Expressions in the Mirror Sit in front of a mirror and ask your child to make a face to represent an emotion. You can try happy (feliz), sad (triste), angry (enojado/enojada), and confused (confundido/confundida). 6. Play I Spy A great activity for long car rides, play I Spy in Spanish to help your child learn both the alphabet and more vocabulary. 7. Sing Along to Music Another good option for livening up car rides is singing songs in Spanish. This is one of the best ways to practice speaking in full sentences, and at the same time your toddler will hear a native speaker singing the language to help with proper pronunciation. 8. Play Simon Says (Simón  Dice) The imperative is a little more complex in Spanish than in English, but even toddlers can learn to respond and produce commands with this game. Simon Says (or  Simón  Dice) is also an ideal opportunity to practice words for body parts and movement. 9. Celebrate a Tradition from a Spanish-Speaking Country Even if you dont have a connection to a particular Spanish-speaking country, you can celebrate a festival in your home. There are plenty to choose from, including  Día  de los  Muertos  from Mexico, Fiesta de la  Candelaria  from Peru, and Las  Fallas  from Spain. Just remember: keeping up with your child’s level of Spanish may soon become difficult if you are relying on the vocabulary and basic grammar you learned in high school. Consider brushing up on your own knowledge by booking Spanish lessons with a private tutor or, as your child gets older, find a language tutor for him or her. Speaking a second language is a lifelong skill that will open up tons of opportunities for your child academically, personally, and professionally. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution