Teaching Kids Spanish
Studies have shown that children have the ability to learn a second or even third language much easier from an early age. In fact, studies on brain development have shown that not only is it much easier to learn a new language more quickly and with more of an ability to become fluent quickly, but learning a second language can also help develop the brain in other ways and can strengthen a child's understanding and mastery of his or her first language. In a world where communication is a key to success and the world is becoming increasingly global, being bilingual or multilingual has huge advantages in today's world.
In the United States, where increasingly large part of the population speaks Spanish, teaching your kids Spanish at a young age can give them a huge advantage later in life. With more than 50% of Los Angeles now Spanish speaking, becoming bilingual in this widely spoken global language will not only help build important cultural bridges and understanding, but can offer opportunities and skill useful in getting a leg up in today's world.
For those that want to start teaching their child Spanish at a super young age, there are language learning software programs like Baby Wow! And Baby Einstein, which are built specifically for toddlers to be able to play on the computer and learn Spanish at the same time. Any tap on the keyboard or mouse, will bring up a new photo or video sequence labeled and spoken in the foreign language.
For slightly older children ages 6 and up, software programs like KidSpeak allow kids to interact with the computer and learn language skills at the same time. If you'd rather go a more traditional route that doesn't involving computer software, an audio series called Teach me Tapes, which teach kids popular songs like the alphabet song and head, shoulders, knees and feet in both Spanish and English. For kids who can already read, picture flashcards in a foreign language and playing games in Spanish can also help them acquire some basic language skills.
In the United States, where increasingly large part of the population speaks Spanish, teaching your kids Spanish at a young age can give them a huge advantage later in life. With more than 50% of Los Angeles now Spanish speaking, becoming bilingual in this widely spoken global language will not only help build important cultural bridges and understanding, but can offer opportunities and skill useful in getting a leg up in today's world.
For those that want to start teaching their child Spanish at a super young age, there are language learning software programs like Baby Wow! And Baby Einstein, which are built specifically for toddlers to be able to play on the computer and learn Spanish at the same time. Any tap on the keyboard or mouse, will bring up a new photo or video sequence labeled and spoken in the foreign language.
For slightly older children ages 6 and up, software programs like KidSpeak allow kids to interact with the computer and learn language skills at the same time. If you'd rather go a more traditional route that doesn't involving computer software, an audio series called Teach me Tapes, which teach kids popular songs like the alphabet song and head, shoulders, knees and feet in both Spanish and English. For kids who can already read, picture flashcards in a foreign language and playing games in Spanish can also help them acquire some basic language skills.
