Inside: Tips and resources to learn Spanish with kids, at home.

“Oh, I would love for my kids to learn Spanish. Your kids are so lucky!”

I hear this one often.

Really, ask anyone if they’d like their young children to speak a second language and the answer will be YES. Of course we would! But then-

We barely remember high school Spanish. I took German. We can’t afford a tutor. I have no idea where to start. 

Don’t let things like this stop you from teaching Spanish to your kids! 

This post will take you through the language learning process at home, step by step. 

Your goal can be fluency. It could be some exposure before high school classes.

Both are valid goals. Whether it’s a little or a lot– any amount of Spanish is a gift to your kids!

Related: A Guide to Preschool Spanish at Home

The First Big Decision

There are three main paths you can take for Spanish at home:

1. Online Spanish classes
2. Hire a Spanish tutor
3. DIY and Create Your Own Lessons 

If your answer is create your own, I’ve got you covered.

This post is packed with step-by-step tips for getting started, and it’s all organized for you below.

If you are interested in online classes, I also know exactly where to send you!

Sarah’s Spanish School is my go-to for online Spanish lessons.

I’m pretty picky, but these classes are really well done and high-interest for kids!

They do immersion-style teaching while staying comprehensible, through real-life topics, stories, and science.

Just grab a free trial to see if it’s a good fit for your kids!

It’s the best platform I know of, and it’s one cost per family– no matter how many siblings are learning together.

Even for native speakers, it can be confusing to know where to start.

If that’s you, read how this mom started teaching her son Spanish at 4. It’s never too late!

Ok, now for those of you looking to create your own lessons.

Learn Spanish with Kids at Home: Planning It Out

Let’s say you want to teach your kids yourself. To get started in learning a foreign language at home, you need to do three things:

1. Outline some beginning topics. Some ways to do this:

• Create your own list, with common topics like numbers, colors, and greetings. 
• Take a look at my outline and use it as-is or adjust as needed. 
  – Curriculum outline for preschool
  – Lessons outline for elementary students
• Create a list of topics your kids are really into (Minecraft, animals, sports, etc.). Use that as a guide. 
  

2. Gather some basic resources.  

• Below, I have a whole library of resources. Don’t try to use them all! Pick a few formats that you like best. 
• Once you have chosen your main topics, set up some resources for that. (For example, if you want to start with numbers: make a page with links to songs, print some flashcards or worksheets, and check out a library book on counting). 

3. Create a routine. 

Pick a time of day or certain days of the week to start learning!

• If teaching toddlers: keep it very short and play-based. 
• With preschoolers: keep it less than 30 minutes per session, a a general rule. 
• Older kids can handle more, but remember learning a language can tire kids out and they will need breaks.

Bonus tips:

• Gather some physical resources. Online resources are great, but real objects can help us stay on track. Grab a basket or make some space on a shelf. Go ahead a put the CD in your car or some books in your child’s room for bedtime.
• Lessons should always be comprehensible (not just a bunch of Spanish noise!).

Also:

• Don’t be self-conscious. Learning a language for adults can feel awkward, but set a relaxed, fun tone anyway.
• Don’t give up if you miss a week or two. Those songs and words stay in little minds longer than we think.
• Don’t make perfection the goal. Do what you can. A little bit every day is great.

A Guide To Resources for Learning Spanish With Kids

This post is packed with links to resources you can use right away. Take your time and make notes as you go!

List of Contents:

1. Free Spanish Curriculum and Flashcards
2. Learn with Spanish Songs
3. Top Spanish Apps for Kids
4. Learn Spanish with Books
5. Make a Language Learning Notebook
6. Learn with Podcasts
7. Bilingual Storytimes
8. Cartoons and Movies
9. Play Games and Get Moving in Spanish
10. Resources for Parents

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Here are some simple, inexpensive ideas to learn Spanish with kids at home!

1. Free Spanish Curriculum (PDF Format)

Spanish Starter Kit (Elementary)

I created this intro Spanish course to take families through the basics, together. It’s best for elementary-aged students.

Spanish PDFs for Levels 1, 2, 3

For older students (middle school and up). This free curriculum takes students through Spanish vocabulary, grammar, and other basic language skills.

Free Spanish Flashcards

Though flashcards are obviously not a curriculum, they can be a nice physical supplement. You can also use them as posters around the house and spark interest in new language topics. 

These flashcards introduce over a 100 Spanish words and are great visuals for younger learners.

2. Learn Spanish with Songs

Whatever learning experience you choose, surround your kids with music in Spanish.

To choose Spanish songs by topics (numbers, colors, greetings, etc.), see my themed guide here.

Here are some of my favorite channels for younger children, on YouTube:

• Super Simple Spanish is always a hit with young kids.
• Calico Spanish also has a good collection of songs specifically designed to teach basic concepts and conversational skills. 
• Rockalingua is another great option for kids learning Spanish, with nice graphics and music. 
• Basho and Friends is a good fit for slightly older learners (upper elementary). He has a big list of songs that cover all sorts of topics in Spanish.

Some playlists on Spotify:

1. Spanish Nursery Rhymes and Folk Songs is a playlist I created for my kids to learn traditional Spanish lyrics and songs. 
2. Spanish Music for Kids – New Songs is a mix of more current children’s songs from Spanish-language artists.
3. Favorite Songs for Spanish Class includes popular, current music in Spanish for pre-teens who may feel like many of the other songs listed here are “baby-ish.”

3. Spanish Apps for Kids at Home

You can also supplement with fun apps!

1. Gus on the Go is one of my favorites for young children who need a simple app for learning some new vocabulary words in Spanish. Their stories stories app is mostly paid but very good as well.
   ($3.99, some parts free.)
2. DuoLingo is the most comprehensive, easy to use, and engaging language app available right now for free. It’s best for kids who are older elementary and can read. (Free)
3. FunSpanish by StudyCat introduces 200 basic words, while teaching listening, speaking, spelling, useful vocabulary and simple sentences
   ($39.99 per year)
4. KinderLingo teaches basic vocabulary and includes games for practicing them, including 150 words.
   (Free)

4. Learn Spanish with Kids Through Books

Reading in Spanish together is a perfect way to learn very beginning words or get language in context. You can slip a Spanish book into your nighttime reading basket to ease into it.

If you want to teach your kids Spanish, start building up a library today.

Language -with all of its magnificent complexity- is one of the greatest gifts we give our children. Yet, we so often treat our verbal communication with children in a casual way. It is a misconception that children learn language passively. Language acquisition is a product of active, repetitive, and complex learning. The child’s brain is learning and changing more during language acquisition in the first six years of life than during any other cognitive ability he is working to acquire.

Scholastic

5. Make a Language Learning Notebook Together

It helps to have one central place for any worksheets, vocabulary cards, or games you may use as you’re learning Spanish.

6. Listen to Spanish POdcasts

Podcasts are another excellent way to get Spanish listening in, for busy families.

7. Bilingual Storytimes

Spanish storytimes at the library are a wonderful way to learn and connect with other families.

8. Spanish Cartoons and Movies

Spanish cartoons and shows can be a way to Learn Spanish, but if you’re picturing fluent kids just by switching Netflix to Spanish, that’s probably not realistic. It will often sound like noise. YouTube has some channels designed for learners that are probably a better place to start, and it’s a great way for kids to be exposed to native speakers.

9. Learn Spanish with Kids Through Games

Get everyone up and moving as you learn new words, sing songs, or play games. Movement (and some silliness!) obviously helps kids get more excited about learning Spanish, and it also helps their memory.

Zumba and Dance Spanish Videos

Yoga Videos

10. Learn Spanish With Your Kids

Unless you plan on hiring a tutor or enrolling your kids in a dual-language school, most of their learning depends on you, the parents. So if you’re really, really committed– you’ll need to learn along with your children.

A lot of your learning can happen as you use the activities above with your kids. Ideally, though, you’re also working on your own.

I hope these ideas were helpful to you as you learn Spanish at home! If you have more ideas, let me know in the comments below.