I loved watching Enzo’s face as he watched Super Mickey Mouse and his friends, Wonder Minnie, Super Power Pup, Super Good , Dynamo Duck and Upsy Daisy,  fighting the villains (Megamort and Power-Pants Pete) who want to shrink everything. This movie was action packed, and Enzo’s eyes would open wide and he watched Mickey and the Gang fight the bad guys. “Mira mama!” “Oh no! Dónde está Mickey?”  (Look mama! Oh no! Where is Mickey?)

As with any Mickey Mouse Clubhouse adventure, Mickey and his friends work together and solve the problem, with a lot of surprises that will surely delight your little one… Enzo loved watching Mickey and his friends as superheroes with special powers.

If your child is obsessed with Mickey, as mine is, this is a great addition to your DVD collection.  This DVD provides an opportunity to learn new vocabulary about action packed, superhero business but also about important themes like teamwork and friendship.

In addition to the movie, this DVD also features three Clubhouse episodes, and they all have Spanish language tracks, which Spanglish mamas and babies will love!

The Giveaway!

We’re giving away one copy of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Super Adventure to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know which Mickey Mouse Clubhouse character is your niños favorite. Then, enter the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enzo has made incredible progress in English, and just when I wonder if English has replaced Spanish as his first language, Enzo surprises me by saying things like “Mama, en español por favor.” (Mama, in Spanish please.) He was referring to one of his favorite TV shows, Doc McStuffins, which I usually play for him in Spanish. I was, of course, thrilled. It was very different from a meltdown he had one morning when I switched the Doc McStuffins episode that his dad had started for him from English to Spanish… he started crying and started saying “English mama English.”

I was sad at that moment, thinking that he definitely preferred everything in English now. But thinking about these two moments, I now realize that it wasn’t that Enzo preferred English to Spanish, it was that since his father had started watching the show with him, he wanted to watch it in English, as he usually does with his dad. When I changed the language on him, it threw him for a loop, and that is what made him upset. (I also know this because sometimes I change from English to Spanish when a show has already started, and he doesn’t say a word about it.)

All this to say that I am reassured that Enzo still loves Spanish, and that English hasn’t completely taken over! Just when I feel reassured about one language, the holidays are coming up and soon Enzo will be immersed in French for a whole week before I join him. I am very excited about this experience for him, and at the same time I can’t help but feel a tiny bit nervous.

As Enzo’s vocabulary increases, it is interesting to see the new obstacles he faces; for example, with masculine and feminine words. Subjects aren’t so much an issue. When we teach him new words, we say “LA manzana” or “EL carro” or “UN zapato” or “UNA media.” I realize though, that he doesn’t yet understand that masculine words have masculine adjectives and same for feminine. This, of course, is a concept he will grasp as he gets older. But for now, it is funny to hear him repeat what I say, for example: “Enzo, Mama está cansada.” (Mommy is tired.) Enzo’s reply is “No, Enzo está cansada.” Of course, I explain to him that Mama is a girl, so she is cansada, and Enzo is a boy so he is cansado… but I’m not sure he has completely picked up on it yet.

As language learning continues, I realize that I will constantly be facing new challenges and that it is incredibly important to be consistent…and of course, repeat, repeat, repeat.

{Photo by dbrekke}

This collection is amazing!

The books are written in an interesting way with information that is both educational and entertaining.  Each book has vocabulary that is age-appropriate and contains pictures that support the text, providing images that bring the words to life. There are also interesting text boxes with information on the time period, other characters, social movements or moments in history. Each book has the character’s timeline in the back, providing important dates during the life of the person who is depicted in the book. There is also a chronology of the world, with important dates in history so readers can see what was happening during that time around the world.  Both young readers and parents will learn a lot!

Find the ¿Quién fue …? books on Amazon.

The Giveaway!

We’re giving away one set of the seven books pictured above to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know which of the seven books you and your niños are most excited to read. Then, enter the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I had the opportunity to review the five bilingual board books that form part of the Arte Kids Books collection: Black & Blanco!, Colors Everywhere, 1,2,3 Sí. Animal Amigos! Hello Círculos!  are colorful and full of learning opportunities! The sturdy board books provide colorful images, text in English and Spanish and at the end of each book, an explanation of the artwork that is included on each page. The artwork in the books are quite diverse, coming from all over the world.

One of the things I loved about this series is that it provides learning opportunities for younger and older children. For a younger child that is not very verbal yet, the books are great because of the great colorful pictures, and simplicity of the text. With older children, a parent can talk about the artwork, where the artists are from in the world, etc. The books also provide questions that create an interactive experience. For example, “Can you walk like an elephant?/Puedes caminar como un elefante?”

These books will open a world of color, art and fun to your little one. Make sure you check them out!

The Giveaway!

We’re giving away one set of the entire Arte Kids collection (5 books) to FIVE lucky winners! All you have to do is visit the Arte Kids site and come back here to leave us a comment letting us know which of the five books you’re the most excited about reading to your child. Then, enter the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last week I picked up Enzo at daycare and he ran to me with arms open wide. “Mommy!”  he said. I said no, “Yo soy mama, abuela es mami.”

He started to giggle and pointed his finger at me, “no tú mommy.”

Only four months into daycare and Enzo’s English is flourishing. At home, sometimes we hear him playing by himself and he is playing en inglés! His Papa swears English has already become his first language.

Enzo hears his other friends call their parents ”mommy” and “daddy” at daycare and, in the past, I think he thought that was what they were called (i.e. their names!) But now, he understand what mommy and daddy mean. When I arrive I hear him say to his teacher, “my mommy is here.”

I try to picture what our language situation will be as Enzo gets older. Will “quiero agua” be replaced by “I want water” and will he stop saying “te amo” to say “I love you?” (Which, by the way, I do—even if I am speaking to my parents in Spanish, I will end the conversation with “love you bye.”)

I do understand that this is undoubtedly a normal progression, as we live in the United States.

The thing is, I happen to love being called “mama.”  (Not mamá because he says it like that -mama, no accent!) I think it’s sweet.

I hear friends around me speaking in English and still refer to their parents as “Mami” and “Papi” so I’m hopeful that even when he’s older and English is the dominant language, my little boy will always call me mama.

Do you have a word or phrase that you wish your little one will never stop saying en español?

{Photo by GabrielaP93}

This September Enzo started in the pre-nursery school classroom. I was very excited when I got the supply list and I saw that Enzo would be having “homework” — until I got the first worksheets and I sat down to do them with him. The worksheet had a big picture of an apple: A is for Apple. Well… hhhmmmm. OK. So I went ahead and did the worksheets the best way I knew how, I just translated the sheets as I went along. “Mira mi amor. Una manzana. Pintemos la manzana.” (Look, it’s an apple, let’s color the apple.)

Talking to another parent, I realized that I won’t be able to do “Spanish only” 100 percent of the time because this is just the beginning. I am going to have to help Enzo with his homework, and that will be in English. Also, reading Ana’s post last week I realized that it is better to acknowledge English and work on his vocabulary and pronunciation as opposed to ignoring it.

So this week, I changed my approach. This week it was B for butterfly. So I said “Mira, es una B de bebe. Y esta es una mariposa, pero en inglés se dice BUTTERFLY.” Thankfully, the teacher seems to have gone over it in school because he knew it was a butterfly. Then I told him it is just like the butterfly we see in “La Oruga Muy Hambrienta.” 

I have decided that it’s OK to acknowledge that in school, Enzo is learning in English and mom understands this. I’ll just reinforce that English is spoken in school, but that at home with Mamá we speak en español. 

I realize that homework is just the beginning. Enzo will learn English, and it will most likely be his preferred language, as it is mine. My goal as a parent is to instill a love of Spanish (and French) and as he gets older; help him understand WHY it’s important to learn it. I want him to understand that it is important for him to communicate with his family and that he’ll reap the benefits later on.

To fulfill that goal, I think it is very important to continue making Spanish FUN! In an effort to do so, I’ve started making up silly songs and celebrating in Spanish. For example, we are potty training and since at daycare everything is in English, I’ve created  a silly song in Spanish to celebrate every time Enzo pees in the potty. My potty song is “Pipi en el baño, pipi en el baño” (sang to the tune of the Conga song).

As we all now, raising bilingual kids is work! I am happy to have this community where I can question, learn and grow while on this journey. I’d love to hear any tips and tricks you used when your child started school and started homework in the majority language.  Are there things you wish you had done or hadn’t done?

Recently, Roxana asked “Is it Wrong for Bilingual Children in the US to Learn Spanish before English?” Among the comments on SpanglishBaby’s Facebook page, one comment particularly struck me… a fellow SpanglishBaby contributor Suzanne Mateus, said “the controversy is particularly sensitive when the children come from working class homes.”  Suzanne makes a great point. People’s reaction to a parent speaking to her child in Spanish (or any other minority language) might vary depending on their perceptions of who you are.

When you’re a Hispanic mom talking to your child in Spanish, many people assume you are doing so because you don’t speak English. When I speak to Enzo in Spanish, and then conduct transactions in perfect English, people don’t know what “box” to put me in. Where is she from? Is she American? Is she an immigrant? Is she rich? Is she poor? Why is she speaking to her son in Spanish?

If people think you’re a recently arrived immigrant, the thought seems to be “Why can’t you learn English?” or “You’re ruining your child’s life because now the kid won’t learn proper English.”

Once you’re seen as a professional, attitudes change. You start hearing things like “Oh he’s bilingual? What a wonderful gift you’re giving him.” Or “How amazing that he can understand and speak in all those languages. That’s going to help him when he’s in school.”  Or “He will have many wonderful opportunities.” It seems society says it’s great to want your children to be bilingual if you are rich, but it’s a hindrance if you are poor or an immigrant.

This point is illustrated in this quote by American linguist J.A. Fishman, which  my friend Annabelle from PiriPiri Lexicon shares on her blog about raising multilingual children:

“Many Americans have long been of the opinion that bilingualism is ‘a good thing’ if it was acquired via travel (preferably to Paris) or via formal education (preferably at Harvard) but that it is a ‘bad thing’ if it was acquired from one’s immigrant parents or grandparents.”

In toddler classes I have attended, many monolingual parents hire Spanish (or other language) speaking nannies so that their children can be exposed to another language. I have actually encountered children who have become fluent in Spanish by having a Spanish-speaking childcare provider. These parents are usually lauded for their efforts (and dollars!) to expose their children to other languages.

Today, children’s language classes are booming (and they can be quite expensive!) Are we saying it is OK for wealthy parents to spend money to have their children become bilingual, but it’s not OK for parents with lesser means to speak their language to their children?

Parents from any socio-economic status who decide to raise bilingual children are giving their children a great gift, a gift that money alone can not buy; because no number of hours at a language school can equal the richness of speaking and learning a language 24/7, with all its intricacies and the culture that is attached to it. Parents who have embarked on this journey should feel happy about the advantages and opportunities they are giving their children.

I hope that our country recognizes the benefits of bilingualism, and immigrants (both newly arrived and second or third generation) parents do not get discouraged by remarks or ” looks” thrown their way.

The truth is being bilingual gives individuals a competitive advantage. It really doesn’t matter to me if someone gives me a look or just wonders why I’m speaking to my child in Spanish, or if they assume I don’t speak English. Criticizing is easy. Raising a multilingual child requires dedication, commitment and hard work.

{Photo by Clearwater Public Library System Photos}

My son Enzo recently started day care. Because I was afraid that full time day care or nursery school would introduce too much English too soon, I decided to go with a part time program. I feel I’ve made the right decision because It’s only been about a month and he already throws around English words in our conversations.

I do not act surprised or scold, I simply say, “¿quieres decir _____? ” and insert the word in Spanish. He smiles a mischievous smile… He understands what he is doing! He knows he isn’t supposed to speak to mama en inglés!

Enzo used to watch a lot of TV in English, but now that he is hearing a lot of it at day care, I have really started focusing on Spanish and French DVDs. I’m lucky because my parents and babysitter speak to him in Spanish all the time. Moving forward, I’m contemplating the idea of making our home a Spanish/French household when it’s just the three of us. I think it will help Enzo hear his parents speak those languages constantly. Perhaps that will keep him from wanting to answer in English. Added bonus, it will also improve my French skills!

I realize that raising a multilingual baby is a lot of work and requires commitment — I feel like I have to step up my game now that he’s in day care!

How did you handle your child(ren) starting preschool or daycare in the majority language? Would love to hear your experiences! Please share any tips below!

{Image by  familymwr}

Two little words leave much to the imagination in this great book! My two year old excitedly watched as the little girl and her dad go faster and faster, transforming into different animals and traveling through different habitats. For Enzo and I, it was an interactive experience. We talked about the pictures  we saw: “¡Qué animal es?”  “Va más rápido!” “¡Qué color es?”  etc. It is a great way to practice vocabulary and to introduce new vocabulary!

It also provides an opportunity to let the children learn about what animals go fast, go slow, fly in the air and swim in the sea. Kids and parents get to use their imaginations and describe the scenery, the animals, movements and sounds. It was so much fun watching Enzo’s face light up as we turned the pages. I was pleasantly surprised! Whoever knew two words could bring so much fun and unleash the imagination?

Book Details

Faster! Faster! ¡Más rápido! ¡Más rápido!

By Leslie Patricelli

Ages: 2-5

Candlewick Press US: $6.99

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one copy of Faster! Faster! ¡Más rápido! ¡Más rápido! to TWO lucky winners. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know why you think your child will enjoy this book and enter the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Editor’s note: We continue with our 31 Days of Reading in Spanish. Check out the book review below and don’t forget to enter our weekly GIVEAWAY of $100 worth of books in Spanish!

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

Because my parents were immigrants, there were many typical “American” things I was not exposed to when I was growing up. For example, I did not get to experience classic movies or story books. Now that I am a mom, it is very important to me to expose my son to the classics. Luckily, I have found some classic books in bilingual editions. I am so thrilled that I am able to read these books to my son en español!

As you may know, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a story about a caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly. La oruga eats and eats until he doesn’t feel well, and then he eats a beautiful green leaf and he feels better. It is an excellent opportunity to talk to kids  about how eating so much food makes it feel sick, but a green leaf (healthy food!) makes the oruguita feel better.

In addition to providing an opportunity to talk to kids about food and healthy eating habits, the book touches on themes of transformation and growing up. It is also an excellent way to learn about the days of the week and counting.

    BOOK DETAILS

    Title:  La Oruga Muy Hambrienta/The Very Hungry Caterpillar

    Author and Illustrator: Eric Carle

    Ages: 3-5 years

    Publisher:  Philomel

    ISBN: 978-0399256059

    Price:  $9.39 on Amazon.com

    Website: www.eric-carle.com