Tools to Help Teach Your Kids English and Spanish

For decades, people were told that the best way to assimilate the American way of life was to speak English at home at all times and to teach it exclusively to children born here. But several generations were deprived of connecting with their heritage and their ancestral homeland. Studies have proven that children who are fluent in two languages have many benefits over those who do not. "Bilingual is Better: Two Latina Moms on How the Bilingual Parenting Revolution is Changing the Face of America," is an excellent resource to start educating yourself on the benefits of bilingualism. Read on to discover some useful tips on giving this advantage to your children.

As your bebé’s brain develops, it will absorb information like a sponge. A great way to begin sharing simple words, pronunciation and language pacing is to sing the traditional lullabies you heard as a child. As you bond with your bebé, they will benefit from repetition and exposure.

MORE: 10 Lullaby Songs to Share Your Heritage

When your niños are ready to listen to stories, bilingual books are a great source for exposing them to traditional stories from your home country and the Spanish language. As they grow and begin to read, they can see the words they already know and learn their spelling and context.

MORE: 10 Books To Teach Your Kids About Your Culture

Children respond to the magic of music. You may have already played classical music for your baby while pregnant. But you can bolster your efforts of bilingualism by playing some of the old staples you listened to when you were growing up, such as “Cri-Cri.” Music will help them develop their synapses and listening to the language will reinforce your other efforts.

MORE: 10 Bilingual Musical Resources

When your child starts going to school, you can place a little note inside his or her lunchbox. This is a good method to foster reading and communicating in both English and Spanish, as well as a nice surprise for them to find at lunchtime so they know mami loves them.

MORE: Free downloadable and printable bilingual lunchbox notes

A fun part of teaching a language is delving into the kitchen and involving your children in the process. They’ll learn new words for kitchen utensils and the ingredients used to make your favorite meals from your home country. Their curiosity will be piqued, which will open new doors to learning opportunities.

Your child will benefit from interaction with other children; that’s a given. But if their little friends are also in the process of becoming bilingual, everyone wins. Don’t worry about your child not having fun. Children are very resilient and open to change. Their social skills will strengthen and they’ll practice what they’ve learned from you—and you could make new friends with other parents trying to foster a bilingual home as well.

Even if your husband isn’t a native speaker, he must know basic words and sentences. Ask him to help in the formative process and support your efforts. Papá will bring a different voice to your child’s ear as well as a new type of interaction. He may even become bilingual himself!

Traveling to your childhood home or your family’s home country will offer your children the chance to listen to your language exclusively, as well as a priceless chance to connect to culture, traditions and your extended family. The language immersion will prove invaluable. The experiences garnered will last a lifetime and the bonds formed will make you a stronger family.

You aren’t alone in this endeavor of raising your children as bilinguals. There are tons of moms all over the world deeply involved in it, and you should take advantage of their experience and wisdom. Online resources abound, such as the award-winning site SpanglishBaby.com. The site will guide you through the pitfalls, as well as link you to other moms who will gladly share their skills and lessons already learned.