-
Start the second language learning early! Experts agree - the earlier, the better. Play language music CDs during the pregnancy. Talk to your baby from the moment of birth - in two or more languages if possible. If you and your family only speak one language, begin introducing a new language with bilingual music CDs and DVDs when appropriate.
- Repetition is the key for all your child's learning.
Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!
- From birth through age 10, many experts advise using the
native and the new languages together. After about age
12, total immersion is a good option. Early in life, the bilingual
approach is best.
- Find a bilingual language learning program and/or product
for your young child that incorporates these components:
visual, music, beginning reading and verbal exchange.
- Help your child enjoy the new language daily. Guidelines
by age are as follows, using music, movement and creative learning
tools.:
- Toddler = 20 minutes
- preschooler = 30 minutes
- elementary school child = 45+ minutes
- Make learning the new language fun! Don't ever
force it. Gently guide your child into the new language journey.
Show a high level of confidence. Smiling usually works best!
- If your home language is Spanish, do not agree to an immersion
program of English only for your child under the age of
10. The "sink or swim" mentality does not work for little
children.
- If your Spanish-speaking child is learning English, do not listen to school staff who suggest you give up speaking your native language at home. The myth that your children will be language delayed or have a language disorder is just that - a myth. In fact, bilingual children will ultimately speak both languages better!
Beth Butler is the creator of the BOCA BETH Program - a bilingual educational program geared towards helping young children get a head start on becoming bilingual. She motivates and assists educators in developing a bilingual environment for children, and she has developed a program that makes bilingual education a fun and easy part of the normal, child-raising routine for today's parents. For more information, visit http://www.bocabeth.com.
Mar 21
20 Egg-sellent Easter Crafts & Activities for KidsHere you go….. here are some of my favorite Easter crafts and activities to do with my children for the Easter Holidays. Kids love the Holidays for many reasons. But, I like to remind my children that bottom line the Holidays are about "Family". So, remind your [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "20 Egg-sellent Easter Crafts & Activities for Kids", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2008/03/21/20-easter-crafts-and-activities-for-kids/" });
Mar 13
St. Patrick?s Day Crafts for KidsSt. Patrick’s Day is on March 17th this year which is in another couple of days. In honor of the festivities I thought I would list a tons of super fun crafts to do with your kids to celebrate St. Patty’s Day. So, without further ado….. feast your eyes [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Kids", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2008/03/14/st-patricks-day-crafts-for-kids/" });
Dec 11
14 Hanukkah Crafts and Activities to enjoy with your PreschoolerIt is December 11th and it is the 8th and final day of Hanukkah 2007. Before Hanukkah was over I wanted to make sure to offer my viewers tons of links to Hanukkah / Chanukah Crafts and Activities to enjoy. Each link takes you to a site that will [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "14 Hanukkah Crafts and Activities to enjoy with your Preschooler", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/12/11/14-hanukkah-crafts-activities-for-preschoolers/" });
Nov 14
Tiny Prints - It?s Free. It?s Easy. It?s Charitable!!I came across this Website today that I just had to share with my Preschool Education Blog viewers. Tiny Prints is donating up to $50,000 this Holiday Season to Children’s Charities. And, they are asking the World Wide Web to help them decide which Children’s Charities a portion [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Tiny Prints - It’s Free. It’s Easy. It’s Charitable!!", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/11/14/tiny-prints-charity/" });
Nov 7
Educational Fall ActivitiesFall may be a terrific time of year for fun crafts but you don’t want to be so focused on the fun that you forget about the great educational opportunities that the season presents. Sure, it’s great to carve pumpkins and make Thanksgiving turkeys out of construction paper during [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Educational Fall Activities", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/11/07/educational-fall-activities/" });
Oct 28
How to Explain to your Preschooler if it is Autumn or FallDo you use the terms “fall” and “autumn” interchangeably? If so, you are just like most other people in America who agree that the two words are meant to mean the same thing (the season that comes after summer and before winter). But there is another school [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "How to Explain to your Preschooler if it is Autumn or Fall", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/28/how-to-explain-to-preschooler-if-it-is-autumn-or-fall/" });
Oct 21
Leaf Crafts for KidsFall is a terrific time to incorporate leaf crafts into kids’ daily activities. You can take kids outside to get some fresh air and physical activity while they collect the leaves. Then you can come indoors again and keep them busy with the crafts. Leaf crafts are [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Leaf Crafts for Kids", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/21/leaf-crafts-for-kids/" });
Oct 15
Teaching your Child about the Environment - Blog Action Day 2007Your children are going to inherit the earth that we are living on today so you obviously want it to be as healthy as it can possibly be for them. Although it’s great that you’re doing your part to take care of the environment, it’s equally as [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Teaching your Child about the Environment - Blog Action Day 2007", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/15/teaching-your-child-about-the-environment/" });
Oct 9
Preschool October Themes - As Fall ContinuesOctober just might be the most fun month there is as far as fall preschool themes go. It’s early enough in the year that there are still plenty of outdoor activities that can be done with preschoolers. It’s also early enough in the year that you’re not [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Preschool October Themes - As Fall Continues", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/10/preschool-october-themes-as-fall-continues/" });
Oct 4
How to Teach your Child about FallWhat better time to teach your child about fall than when we’re right about to enter the midst of it? Fall is a great teaching tool because it applies to so many different areas of life. Not only do kids learn about the seasons, but they also [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "How to Teach your Child about Fall", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/04/how-to-teach-your-child-about-fall/" });