Summer days are perfect for splashing in the ocean or pool. But what do you do with the kids during those scorching hours when it is not good to be outside? Help them learn some Spanish! These tips are fun and easy to implement. They are also a very natural way to acquire a language. And what’s best, YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW SPANISH! In fact, you can learn together! Enjoy and let me know how it went.
1. Read some books.
Reading stories is one of the best ways to learn vocabulary in a contextualized way. In addition to this, you can also teach a bit about the target culture. You don’t speak Spanish? No worries, many authors, especially independent ones, offer youtube channels where they read books. (They also offer free ebook downloads often) Here is mine: Andrea Olatunji Youtube Channel and here are a couple I can recommend: Lilo cuentos infantiles and SheySheyland
2. Listen to Spanish podcasts for kids.
On my previous blog post I shared some of my favorite podcasts: My favorite Spanish Podcasts for Kids. These are a fun and easy way to get your kids to enjoy some quiet time while they learn.
3. Do a home, store, or supermarket scavenger hunt.
You can make a bilingual list of food, clothes, furniture words, or any vocabulary you want to target. then, get kids to go on a scavenger hunt and find these things. If you are at the store, they can walk with you, tell you when they find one and check them on their list. You can use Google translate or a dictionary if you don’t know Spanish.
4. Listen to songs and dance.
Music is fun, appealing, relaxing, and it gives kids an opportunity to get their wiggles out while indoors. Youtube offers a million examples if you search “Spanish songs for kids”. I have used the Cds Muevete and Cha Cha Cha with my students and they loved them. You can also download the songs from Amazon. Don’t focus on learning the lyrics. Just dance and watch what happens.
5. Make some art.
Kids can learn colors and shapes by creating a collage using these. Cut out shapes out of construction paper in different colors and listo! Encourage the kids to tell you what they created using the color and shape vocabulary.
6. Do some yoga or zumba in Spanish.
Again, you can find a lot of examples on the Internet. Here is a good one: Zumba by Sara. She will give them a workout!
7. Learn with PBS
PBS offers some good quality stuff. In any laguage. Oh Noah! is cute and fun!
8. Create your own flashcards. With audio and visuals!
I have mentioned this resource many times. It is that they are just so good and easy to make! Tiny Cards allows you to make bilingual, visual, and audible cards.
9. Arbol ABC offers games and activities for all levels.
Full of activities by subject and levels. Kids need to know some Spanish for most of these, as so do you to navigate the site. Arbol ABC
10. Take advantage of what Cuentacuento books have to offer.
I created Cuentacuento Books to offer teachers and parents an opportunity to help their kids learn Spanish in a fun, meaningful, and contextualized way. Did you know my books have an educator’s guide with ten lesson plans, photocopiable activities, guiding questions, and project ideas? There are also vocabulary cards which are so much fun. Check them out!