As a parent, you may have doubts about sending your child to a bilingual Spanish preschool. You may be afraid that your child won’t be able to keep up or that he or she will become frustrated.
Still, the benefits of learning a language other than English at an early age outweigh the concerns you may have. A 2007 study by the National Education Association revealed that bilingual (even multilingual) children have stronger thinking skills, greater cultural awareness, and better chances of succeeding in school and work.
Here are some tips from your friendly day care center in King County, Washington on how to prepare your child for bilingual Spanish preschool:
- Read and sing along.
Introduce your child to Spanish by using it with them. Unless you have a background in the language, you don’t have to be fluent to read and sing along with your child in Spanish. Start with the basics, like Spanish nursery rhymes and short stories.
- Play some games.
Follow up your child’s learning by putting them to the test in simple yet fun ways. You can try asking your child to name household objects, colors, and other things in Spanish. Ask them questions like, “How do you say ‘I like it’ in Spanish?” or “What’s the Spanish word for ‘tree’?”
- Join in.
Know what your child has learned and try it yourself. This shows them that you are interested in their learning and encourages them to do better. You even get to learn some Spanish yourself!
- Be patient.
Accept the fact that your child won’t learn something new overnight. They may still not know how to introduce themselves in Spanish or tell pero and perro apart, and that’s okay. Always remember that pressuring your child to learn only ruins their experience.
These are just some tips on how to prepare your child for preschool learning in a Spanish school. If you’re looking for a great center for child education in King County, Washington that teaches Spanish, look no further than Lagarllito’s Garden Bilingual Spanish School.
