How to Teach Your Child Spanish at Home for Free

A great way to learn Spanish with songs is to become a fan of a singer that only sings in Spanish. This is a great wat to truly have the curiosity to know what the lyrics means. If you need some inspiration, we recommend you visit our post: Top Female Singers. You'll find a list of Spanish singers, from today's top stars to famous artists from the 90s and 20s.

Read Some Spanish Jokes Together

Teaching your kid Spanish can be a barrel of laughs, when you bring jokes into the mix.

Using jokes is a great way to make learning fun for kids. When you teach with jokes, you make them happy too.

Start with simple jokes that play on words they're familiar with, like numbers or colors. For example, “¿Qué hace una abeja en el gimnasio?” (“What does a bee do at the gym?”) – “¡Zum-ba!”

This play on the sound bees make and the word for a popular dance workout is sure to get a giggle. As they laugh, they learn, and these playful moments can make the words stick better than any repetition drill.

We love this way of teaching so much that we've written not one but 2 articles with plenty of jokes to get you started. Check them out here: "Spanglish jokes to get you laughing" and my favourite ones when I was a kid: "Pepito jokes".

Read Books in Spanish Together

Reading books together is a fun way to learn Spanish. Pick a colorful book in Spanish. Point to pictures and say the words. Laugh while learning together.

Your child will remember the words and want to read more. Each new book helps your child learn new words. Books are good friends on this language adventure.

If you don't know where to start, give a read to our guide to Spanish books for children. Here you will find some free online resources that will give you access to some amazing Spanish books. We also give some examples of baby books and picture books. Also you will get some tips to find the best Spanish language books for learners.

Watch Movies in Spanish Together

Watching Spanish shows with your child is a smart move. They hear the sounds and rhythms of Spanish.

They see the actions and match them to the words. Choose shows with songs and fun characters. Remember to join in with singing and dancing.

Your child will pick up Spanish words without even trying!

Find shows made for kids. These are easy and slow. They use simple words. Your child can follow along. They might even speak back to the screen!

Use subtitles if you need. You can pause and discuss what you watched and ask questions.

What colors did they see? Who was the funnies character? Use this as an excuse to create a moment where you only speak in Spanish.

Watch the same episode again and again. Repetition helps. Your child will learn the lines.

They may shout out the words before the characters say them! You can also watch in small bits instead of watching full movies. This is how your child can learn Spanish, one show at a time.

If you don't know which movies are the best to start, we recommend Disney movies. You can have a look at our blog post to discover which Disney movies are trending in Spain at the moment.

Join Online Spanish Classes

In some areas you can find free Spanish classes. The ALCE program is for kids aged 7 to 17 from Spanish-speaking families living abroad. Here you can see if they offer them in your area.

Diluu doesn’t have free Spanish courses, but you can use the code LOROPEPE for a free trial class. That's our way to say thank you for making it this far in the article. Head here to claim your free trial class.

Our lessons are for 4-12 year olds and have a game format. They can be in small groups or 1-2-1. They're all conducted by fun native teachers. We adapt our Spanish curriculum to the needs to each child.

Joining an online group class can be great for bilingual children to interact in Spanish with other kids.

Kids at home will have fewer distractions when joining online lessons.

Use Free Apps and Online Resources:

Free apps designed to make Spanish learning engaging and accesible. These apps use games and activities to teach your child Spanish at home and keep their interest peaked.

Here are three free apps that are great for learning Spanish:

1. Duolingo: This app uses a game-like format to teach new words and grammar in short, manageable lessons.

2. Gus on the Go: This app uses animations and fun lessons to teach children new words through games and stories.

3. Endless Spanish: this app helps kids them learn new words in a playful environment.

4. Little Pim: Little Pim uses videos to teach words and phrases in Spanish.

Play together in Spanish:

Turn playtime into Spanish time. Interactive games and flashcards are a blast and teach kids Spanish without them even realizing they're learning. Act out verbs together or sort colors and shapes while naming them in Spanish.

Spanish games are a fun and interactive way to help children practice and improve their language skills.

Here are some examples of Spanish games that can be fun and educational for learners:

1. Bingo en Español: Create bingo cards with Spanish vocabulary words.

2. Palabra Perdida (Missing Word): you say a Spanish sentence with a missing word, and the players guess the word to fill it in.

3. ¿Quién Soy? (Who Am I?): Players take turns asking yes or no questions in Spanish to guess the identity of a famous person.

4. Memory con Palabras (Memory with Words): Use cards with pairs of pictures and their corresponding Spanish words. Players turn over two cards at a time, trying to find matching pairs, while practicing the vocabulary.

5. Pictionary en Español: Play Pictionary where players must draw and guess words in Spanish.

No matter if you kid is in nursery or high school, there will be a Spanish game that is good for the age.

How to teach baby Spanish

Teaching Spanish to a baby is a gentle and enjoyable process that can start from birth. At this early stage, babies are especially receptive to learning new sounds and patterns.

Start by speaking simple Spanish words and phrases to your baby during everyday activities. For instance, you can say "leche" when giving milk or "pañal" when changing a diaper. Using the same words over and over helps your baby link sounds to what they mean.

Incorporate Spanish into daily routines through songs and nursery rhymes. Babies love the rhythm and tunes of songs, which help them remember words.

Singing Spanish lullabies before bed or playing soft Spanish music during playtime creates a soothing language-learning environment. These tunes calm babies and also help them get better at listening.

Another effective method is using colorful picture books. Choose books with large, bright images and minimal text. Read aloud in Spanish, pointing to pictures and describing them. Seeing pictures and hearing words together helps babies start linking sounds with images, which builds their basic Spanish words.

Overall, the key to teaching Spanish to a baby is consistency and integration into daily life. The more naturally and frequently a baby hears Spanish, the more likely they are to pick up the language as they grow. Keep the activities fun and light, and enjoy the process of introducing your baby to a new world of words.

Talk to Your Baby in Spanish:

Never too early to start! Talk to your baby in Spanish as often as you can. The sounds of the language will become familiar, and it's one of the best ways for kids to learn. Even if it's just simple phrases or nursery rhymes, it makes a difference.

The Best Way to Teach Kids Spanish:

Consistency is key. A little bit every day goes a long way. Set aside a special time for Spanish learning. Also, consider free online platforms that have structured lessons for different ages and levels.

Involve the Family:

One of the best ways to teach your child Spanish is to learn as a family. It creates a supportive environment. Plus, practicing together means everyone learns and improves.

Make it Part of Your Routine:

Whether it's during mealtime, bath time, or on the drive to school, find moments to sprinkle in Spanish. Consistent exposure is the best way for kids to learn Spanish and to ensure it sticks.

Remember, the goal is to make learning Spanish fun and a natural part of your child's world. With these steps, you're well on your way to opening a new world of language for your child, and the best part—it doesn't have to cost a thing! Keep it simple, stay consistent, and watch your child's language skills bloom.

Kids Spanish: first steps in learning

Introducing your child to Spanish can be a fun and rewarding adventure. Here are some effective ways to begin your child’s journey with Spanish.

Start with Basic Words: Begin with the basics such as numbers, colors, and simple greetings. For instance, teach them "hola" (hello), "adiós" (goodbye), "rojo" (red), and "azul" (blue). You can make flashcards with these words, draw pictures together, or even label objects around your home with their Spanish names.

Motivation: this can play a big part on how excited your kid is to learn new words in Spanish. A great way to motivate your children is by showing them how useful it is to speak Spanish. For example you can tell them that over 400 million people speak it in 21 countries and you can also play with our free map of all the Spanish speaking countries.

Incorporate Spanish into Daily Routines: Make Spanish a natural part of your child’s day. During meals, say the foods in Spanish or discuss the weather while dressing up.

Use Songs and Games: Children love music and play, and these can be powerful tools for learning. Sing Spanish nursery rhymes or play simple games like "Simon dice" (Simon Says) in Spanish.

Story Time in Spanish: Reading is a great way to advance language skills. Choose children's books in Spanish and read together. Start with short, simple stories to keep their interest high.

Regular Practice: Consistency is key when learning a new language. Even short, daily sessions are more effective than longer, less frequent ones. Keep the sessions light and fun, aiming to build a positive attitude toward Spanish.

Remember, the goal is to make learning Spanish exciting and engaging for your child. Enjoy the process as you both learn and grow together in this language adventure.

If parents are native Spanish speakers, it's easier to include Spanish in daily routines. But don't worry if you're not a native speaker, you can still implement some Spanish in your routines and it will be beneficial too.