Have you taught your preschooler a second language?

[Sarahsmommy1008]

I want to start teaching DD the basics of Spanish, but I'm not sure how to approach to concept of languages.  Has anyone done this who can give me some ideas?

[metooo]

I never have, only because I don't know a second language. I really wish I did though. I would just go with immersion and start speaking as much in spanish to her as you can. :) 

[KickButtMama]

Honestly, we just start using words and phrases. Think about how you taught her to speak English. At this point you won't be doing grammar lessons and such. I used to count w/ my boys in English, Spanish & French. I would do the same w/ common phrases... "yo no say, je ne sai pas, mean I don't know!" (btw these were written phonetically, not accurately.)

[lisemicheal]

I speak french (actually i read and understand it better than I speak it) and know some spanish and german.  We are doing our best to teach our daughter hello, goodbye, where is the restroom, etc right now.  She is really good about being able to say hello and goodbye in 6 languages.  But that is from a card game we play called Hello Friends.  She also knows a bit of chinese from watching Kai Lan.   I also read books and we look at picture books from Usborne Books which are in french and spanish.  

[KickButtMama]

Quoting metooo:

I never have, only because I don't know a second language. I really wish I did though. I would just go with immersion and start speaking as much in spanish to her as you can. :) 

I spoke German as a very young child, but sadly refused to speak it when we moved to the US for fear of being different. I only took 2 years of Frenk in high school and really only remembered'i don't know'. One thing. Love about HS is when the kids wanna learn something, I can learn it as well! LOL

[twyliatepeka]

we plan to i just have not gotten the courage to start yet. she wants to learn sign language, we watch Swithched at Birth & she is starting to pick up a few signs.

[Joellen3797]

Quoting KickButtMama:

Honestly, we just start using words and phrases. Think about how you taught her to speak English. At this point you won't be doing grammar lessons and such. I used to count w/ my boys in English, Spanish & French. I would do the same w/ common phrases... "yo no say, je ne sai pas, mean I don't know!" (btw these were written phonetically, not accurately.)

[KickButtMama]

Quoting twyliatepeka:

we plan to i just have not gotten the courage to start yet. she wants to learn sign language, we watch Swithched at Birth & she is starting to pick up a few signs.

Check out the vids at www.signingtime.com

And the boys and I teach early sign and have out together vids at www.signingspot.webs.com

[twyliatepeka]

thanks!

Quoting KickButtMama:

Quoting twyliatepeka:

we plan to i just have not gotten the courage to start yet. she wants to learn sign language, we watch Swithched at Birth & she is starting to pick up a few signs.

Check out the vids at www.signingtime.com

And the boys and I teach early sign and have out together vids at www.signingspot.webs.com

[Mommy2Phenley]

We do ASL. We use a lot of Signing Time, but also teach it by just using sign throughout our day. Signing Time is great for getting started and for vocabulary. You can pick up a bit of grammar here and there if you watch closely, but it's not taught. So DD gets that mostly through me signing with her.