Kids are sponges when they're young, so take advantage of that and have fun learning about the Spanish language at home through movies, food, holidays, and more.
1. Get your kids interested in Spanish through fun cultural movies
Your kids are sponges when they're in elementary school. They pick up all kinds of new topics, including language, and they can become bilingual, even if Spanish isn't spoken at home.
One way to reinforce their Spanish at school or to even pick up new vocabulary and phrases is to watch TV programs and movies about specific topics that will pique their interest.
For instance, the Day of the Dead is coming Nov. 2. So it's not too early to get your kids excited about this important Latin American holiday that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed on.
One movie your kids are sure to enjoy is The Book of Life.
It's different from Coco, as it's set in colonial Mexico and has a completely different storyline. But like Coco, your kids will learn more about what the Day of the Dead means to Mexicans.
Your kids can watch it in English or Spanish. It's available on Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon, and more.
2. Prepare Latin American food at home with your kids
What better way to get your kids excited about Spanish than through food. It's something that links us all no matter what language we speak.
Your kids can watch videos on YouTube on how to prepare different foods from Latin America. One of my personal favorites is from Peru.
Called ají de gallina, this is the perfect comfort food for your family. It's easy to prepare with your kids using the shortcuts I shared in the article.
If your family is more into desserts, then they'll love churros with chocolate sauce, the perfect accompaniment to watching the Book of Life or Coco.
You may need to assist your kids in making these, especially with the frying part.
3. Your kids can learn Spanish at home with a teacher
Ready for your little adventurer to jump into the fun world of Spanish? Now they can do it at home!
We have both in-person and online classes for your family's convenience. With a flexible schedule, you're sure to find a fun group or private class that works best for you and your kids.
At our office in Chula Vista, CA, we have two new Spanish for Kids teachers, Elisa Olivares and Daniel Pozos.
A native of Tijuana, Elisa is a certified child development specialist and is fully vaccinated, so your children are safe in her hands.
Daniel is a Spanish teacher who excels at teaching both kids and adults, infusing his Spanish classes with Mexican culture and history.
Both Elisa and Daniel would be delighted to meet your kids at your home in Chula Vista and help them speak like a native in Spanish!
And we now offer in-person Spanish for Kids classes in Palm Beach, FL. Our teacher Sheilla Antón is available to come to the student's home to share her language and culture your the kids.
But that's not all.
I'll be opening another office in November in Virginia. That means there'll be Spanish for Kids teachers from Washington, DC to Richmond, VA ready to come to your home to share their language and culture with your kids.
And as always, my fantastic team of Spanish for Kids teachers will continue to be available here in Chula Vista, CA and Palm Beach, FL for in-person classes.
And we still offer online classes via Zoom, too, making it easy to bring Spanish into your home for your kids.
Contact me now to find out more and register your little explorer.
Jackie Donaldson is a language teacher and pronunciation specialist at Amidon Studios. She founded Amidon Studios in 2017 after managing a language institute in Lima, Peru. She's taught English and Spanish to students from all over the world while living in Peru, Mexico, and the U.S. When she's not working or studying, you'll find her gardening, playing with her cat Frankie, swimming, and exploring the globe.