SB Finds

We may have a bookshelf full of bilingual books in our house, but sometimes it’s fun to mix it up. The world of apps makes it easy to do just that. Instead of simply reading a story and maybe talking about it for a few minutes, we can extend the benefit of Spanish stories by letting our kids explore apps like Learn Spanish: Little Blue Jackal by Niyaa. This iPad app is a high-quality learning tool that can be usedRead More ...

Like me, my daughter Vanessa is fascinated by maps, atlases and geography in general. And like most first-graders, she’s addicted to the iPad and it’s endless apps. So I was intrigued when I was approached by Barefoot Books — one of my favorite multicultural children’s book publishers — regarding a new app they recently launched together with Touch Press – the creators of some of the best apps out there. I knew the Barefoot World Atlas app would be well done,Read More ...

Y ahora pon el gatito en el techo de la casita. A ver, ¿son igualitos? ¡Sí! ¡Perfecto! Bueno, it does not always work out that perfectly, but Igualitos is fun, and we always speak lots of Spanish! Igualitos (Just the Same) is my name for this cooperative game. It is what language teachers call a barrier game; players have the same materials and exchange information without seeing what the others are doing. Playing Igualitos, you work together to make theRead More ...

Quiero Mi Baby on MTV Tr3s is a new series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues. This second season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to each week! Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Yliana and Josh below. Episode description: “Mix a workaholic Mexican/Rican wife withRead More ...

It’s that time of the year again when routine must kick back into gear because school is back in session. I’ve been working with the kids on our own routine here at home. I learned early on how kids loved to know and to pick what activity would be next as well as letting others know what they were up to. This activity sign is the best thing yet especially if you have other kids in the neighborhood who mayRead More ...

If you are like me and constantly in search of bilingual items for your child then this one is sure to be a hit! The Bright Starts ™ Having a Ball™ Get Rollin’ Activity Table offers you and your little one the option of learning in English or Spanish. We always keep it in Spanish mode, except during play dates when we sometimes use the English version, but only at the parents or English-speaking child’s request.There are plenty of features to learn fromRead More ...

Last week, my daughter Sofía and I attended a free event, Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andrés, sponsored by our local library.  As a public speaker, educator and presenter, I’m a tough crowd to please and I have to say that this show was fenominál! The show, Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andrés, used music, song, and dance to engage the audience in a language and culture fiesta.  We learned words in Español that had to do with colores, animales, and bodyRead More ...

We all need a little help during this back to school season. As we try to get our kids ready and excited about leaving their lazy summer days behind for the hustle and bustle of school a lot of us also worry about how our kids will stay connected to their culture and continue to thrive bilingually. This year Nestlé has taken note and is stepping in. Recognizing the importance of staying connected with our culture and language, Nestlé hasRead More ...