Teach your child the words for the rooms of the house in Spanish. You can use them in lots of daily interactions and simple games. A few suggestions follow these common Spanish words: la cocina – the kitchen la sala – the living room el baño – the bathroom el dormitorio/ el cuarto – the bedroom Different words are used for bedroom in different countries. In Mexico, cuarto and recámara are used most commonly. In [...]
Words for basic furniture and the rooms of the house are important for talking about daily activities in Spanish. These are some of the first words to talk about the house that children learn in Spanish: la casa – house la mesa – table la silla – chair el sofá – couch/sofa la cama – bed You can use these Spanish words as you play with a doll house, or draw. They are also fun [...]
This is great song for learning Spanish family vocabulary. Learn the song watching the video – the drawings and actions reinforce the meaning of the words. Then sing the song with the same actions you use for “Where is Thumbkin,” where each finger represents a different family member. Start with both hands behind your back and when you sing aquí está, bring them out. With the words gusto saludarte, make your fingers bow, wave or [...]
My family and I – Mi familia y yo is a bilingual book introducing Spanish family words. The story is simple – Emma introduces the different members of her family. The clear illustrations that support the text help children acquire new vocabulary. My family and I – Mi familia y yo also comes with a CD, so that your child can hear and absorb the sounds of Spanish. If you’re learning with your child, this [...]
Family is the center of a child’s world, so these are Spanish words she will need. They are essential for talking about the day and will also be used in stories, songs and games. In fact, she may already know some of these Spanish family words. la mamá – mother el papá – father la hermana – sister el hermano – brother la abuela – grandmother el abuelo – grandfather Use the words with your [...]
This song is sung to the tune of “Ten Little Fingers.” Wave your two hands as you sing dos manitas, wiggle your ten fingers as you sing diez deditos, and count with your fingers as you sing from one to ten. If you’re not sure of the pronunciation or the tune, you can hear the number song in Spanish in this video. Dos manitas, diez deditos, dos manitas, diez deditos, dos manitas, diez deditos, cuéntalos [...]
This a wonderful video of a child making the animal sounds. ¿Cómo hace …? (What does…say?) is the question that her mother is asking. The answers speak for themselves!
This game gives the English and Spanish word for each animal. Simply chose an animal and say the word in Spanish, then click on it to see if you are right. Repeat the word after you hear it to practice your pronunciation. The game takes a little while to load, but then it works really well. Seleccione un animal – Choose an animal In this game, you move the mouse to discover the farm scene [...]
Picture books in Spanish will often have vocabulary that your child does not know. Even simple books, about familiar topics, will have words and verb forms that are new. That is great! That is how children learn languages. The illustrations, context of the story, and words she does know will clarify the meaning of new vocabulary. If your child is learning the words for animals in Spanish, these simple picture books are sure to be [...]
I usually introduce a few common farm animals after talking about pets. el caballo – horse la vaca – cow el cerdo – pig la oveja – sheep el pato – duck After you have introduced the words, use them as you play with your child. Repetition over time is important for real learning. Point out animals in books and videos, and try these activities. Using small toy animals or pictures of animals, hide both [...]
It is important to introduce words that are relevant to your child’s life and related to your child’s interests. Many children have pets, or love animals, so I introduce some common animals during the first weeks of class. Talking about animals is also a great way to re-enter the body parts that your child has learned. I start with common household pets: el perro – dog el gato – cat el pájaro – bird el [...]
Pronunciation matters! Be sure that your child hears as much native-speaker Spanish as possible by using videos, music and audio books. If you are learning with your child, do your best to master the sounds of Spanish. Here are a few things you should keep in mind: 1. The vowels in Spanish always have the same sound. A as in father E as in get I as in machine O as in owe U as [...]