Songs, Verbs, Videos, Vocabulary 16 August 2010

This song, Si tú tienes muchas ganas de aplaudir (If you feel a lot like clapping) is the Spanish version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” It reinforces the meaning of the common Spanish phrase tener ganas de + infinitive (to feel like doing something). It also uses …

 Colors, Online activities, Videos 23 July 2010

This is another activity for practicing colors and pronunciation. The games on this site from Spain have audio, so that children can hear and learn to pronounce the sounds of Spanish. The games are simple and incorporate images that make it possible to use the color vocabulary in context.
The menu …

 Body parts, Pronunciation, Songs, Videos, Vocabulary 19 July 2010

If I could choose one song for my university students learn as children, it might be this one. In addition to correct Spanish pronunciation and useful vocabulary, it exposes children to several key structures that are much more difficult to learn later.
These are just a few examples of the Spanish …

 Outside-Nature, Songs, Toys and Games, Videos, Vocabulary 27 June 2010

This song in Spanish is about rowing a boat to find a lost love.  It is also a hand-clapping game. The meanings of the words el río (river) and el mar (sea) and un día (one day) are reinforced as children sing them several times.
Children also learn the Spanish phrase …

 Outside-Nature, Songs, Videos, Vocabulary 17 June 2010

This is the Spanish version of the traditional song “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” It has lots of Spanish vocabulary, and actions reinforce the meaning of the words. The repetition lets children practice noun-adjective agreement (for example, árbol lindo, rama linda or ese árbol, esa rama) over and over.  …

 Playground, Toys and Games, Videos 12 June 2010

A game of tag is an excellent opportunity to use Spanish with your child. The game has different names in different Spanish-speaking countries. In Mexico, it is called la traes which translates roughly as “you have it.” In Spain, it is called pilla-pilla or tú la llevas. In Argentina, tag …

 Clothes, Songs, Toys and Games, Videos, Vocabulary 21 May 2010

My children played this game in Mexico when they were little, and my daughter Maggie also played it as a volunteer at El Centro, a Hispanic community center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Children love the suspense of this game – knowing that they will be chased, but not knowing when. The …

 Songs, Verbs, Videos 15 May 2010

This traditional Spanish children’s song is about a monkey who likes his lettuce ironed, without any wrinkles, and with lime and salt.  The song is very short, and children learn it easily. The first line – A mi mono, le gusta la lechuga (My monkey likes lettuce) – teaches children …