Top Lists

Beyond Apples and Mugs: Get Creative with DIY Teacher’s Gifts

May 17, 2012 by The Motherhood

Yesterday afternoon in The Motherhood, a band of wonderfully creative women came together to share their ideas on beautiful teacher’s gifts for the end of the school year. They focused on what they could make that would be both meaningful AND budget-friendly. Check out the amazing ideas that Amy at Modge Podge Rocks and her creative co-hosts came up with…

If you’re looking for something cute that you can store a gift card in, try one of these:

Smoothie cups with gift certificates posted by Cindy, Skip to my Lou

Thanks a ‘latte’ Starbucks gift card printable posted by Amy, Mod Podge Rocks

Gift card tree posted by Brandie, Journey of 1000 Stitches

How about some fun projects that the kids can help you with?

Melted crayon art posted by Emily, The Motherhood

Shrinky Dink kid art necklace posted by Heather, Dollar Store Crafts

Teacher office supply clock posted by Amy, Mod Podge Rocks

Painted flower pots posted by Angie, The Country Chic Cottage

Scrabble magnets posted by Brandie, Journey of 1000 Stitches

Easy alphabet rocks posted by Jodi Kahn, Simply Sublime

Or maybe a delicious treat that your child’s teacher can enjoy?

Brownie mix in a jar posted by Brandie, Journey of 1000 Stitches

Chocolate bar printable posted by Pauline, Club Chica Circle

Mini Apple Oreo Pops posted by Amy, Mod Podge Rocks

We’ve even got some super cute ideas for craft supplies!

School supplies cake posted by Cooper, The Motherhood

Oven mitt filled with school supplies posted by Erin, The Motherhood

Scrapbooking kit posted by Sara, The Clever Pink Pirate

Spiffy personalized scissors posted by Amy, Mod Podge Rocks

And we went crazy for these adorable notepad, journal and book ideas!

Journal gift pack with personal touches posted by Lynnee, Club Chica Circle

Handmade bookmarks posted by Brandie, Journey of 1000 Stitches

DIY Photo notepads posted by Jodi Kahn, Simply Sublime

Notecard printable and fabric notepad covers posted by Cindy, Skip to my Lou

Personalized apple notebook covers posted by Amy, Mod Podge Rocks

You could also send them into summer and to the beach with style…

Beach tote posted by Cindy, Skip to my Lou

Beach treat towel posted by Cooper, The Motherhood

Cute pillowcase tote posted by Jodi Kahn, Simply Sublime

And on to the rest of the beautiful gifts the amazingly crafty ladies had to share:

Duct tape dry erase board posted by Sara, The Clever Pink Pirate

Calculator and flowers with free printables posted by Cindy, Skip to my Lou

Decoupage plates posted by Emily, The Motherhood

Classroom door decor posted by Pauline, Club Chica Circle

“Days of the Week” pill box filled with sayings and treats and decorated photo holder posted by Cindy, Skip to my Lou

Also, be sure to check out these wonderful links that were shared:

Teacher appreciation series by Cindy, Skip to My Lou: http://www.skiptomylou.org/teacher-appreciation-ideas

Parade Magazine’s list of favorite teacher gifts: http://www.parade.com/news/2012/05/14-teachers-most-appreciated-gifts.html

Wow. So many amazing ideas! We had such a lovely time discussing all the beautiful things we can do to thank our children’s teachers for being so wonderful! Can’t wait to see what brilliant crafts these ladies will come up with next!

Winning the Chore War: How to Get Kids to Help Around the House

April 19, 2012 by The Motherhood

So, how are the chore wars going around your house? We do not have them over at my place. That is because a “war” involves engagement from both sides. At my house, one side mutters, “For the love of Pete, how can you get dirty clothes over every square inch of your room and STILL miss the hamper?” and the other side stares with confusion and mild concern, as if his mother were having some sort of nervous breakdown in Portuguese.

Today in The Motherhood, Dr. Deborah Gilboa of Ask Dr. G was joined by a panel of expert moms, including Mysti Reutlinger, Jessica Torres, Kimberly, Jennifer A. Hall, and Stefanie Mullen to discuss all things to do with our kids’ chores.

Why Bother?

First off, why do we even have our kids do chores? After all, much of the time, by the time we finish telling our kids what to do (the first time) we could have done it ourselves. Many of us agreed with Kimberly, who has her kids do chores to learn responsibility, and with Jessica, who also likes them to learn to help around the house. Mysti wants her kids to learn the value of contribution, and Cooper added that she wants her kids to feel like “part of a team.”

Most of the panelists have their kids do chores that help the whole family, like unloading the dishwasher, rather than just picking up after themselves. That supports the concept that we do chores because we’re part of a family, part of a team. When one of my kids complains (usually about picking up a sibling’s stuff), my response is, “Hey, I don’t wear your underwear, but I wash it.”

Dr. G offered another benefit of chore participation: “As kids get older they usually distance themselves from the family. This is a great way to show them how integral they are to the family unit, and keep them connected. Even if they don’t like it, everyone likes to be needed.”

When to Start?

How old does a child have to be to have chores? Not very, it turns out, as long as the chores they have are age-appropriate. For example, most of our panel started teaching their kids to pick up and put away toys as soon as they were able to walk (the kids, not the toys; if the toys could walk they could put themselves away). Dr. G offers free resources, including a chart showing appropriate chores by age. With toddlers, singing “Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Clean Up” can be an effective cue to start picking up. With teenagers, Deborah pointed out, it can be even more effective, because they will do anything to get their mom to stop singing. Hey, whatever works.

Deborah made another excellent point: “Asking a child to do a specific chore without actually teaching that chore, is a lesson in defeat. Some chores have to be taught many times. ” The panel echoed her sentiments, and Mysti said, “We try to introduce only one new chore per month that requires learning. That gives us ample time to reinforce how the process progresses.” Dr. G affirmed that while it would be faster to do a given chore ourselves, it’s “still important to teach each skill and then “let” them practice until they move out!” I agree–the hour I spent showing my son, step by step, how to clean a bathroom was some of the best time I’ve ever invested.

To Pay, or Not to Pay?

So, do you pay your kids for their chores? Or do you think allowance and chores should be kept separate? The panel and participants had varying opinions. Dr. G said, “I think tying allowance to chores gives the false idea that chores are optional – the child could always give up the (money) and opt out of helping.” Jennifer felt that kids should be rewarded for doing their chores; Jessica ties chores to a point system, with her daughter being allowed to choose a reward after she’d gotten a certain number of points. Mysti doesn’t give an allowance for chores, but uses a work-hard, play-hard model: “Once a month, we let the kids decide a fun outing as a reward for all their hard work.”

Kimberly offered, “We do give an allowance for chores. It’s not a lot though, as we do feel that there should be some responsibility at home.” Stefanie said, “We keep it separate in our house. You do chores because you live here and should contribute.” Other panelists were on board with that rationale, though most agreed that they would pay the child for doing a bigger task that wasn’t a part of their regular chores.

Dr. G noted, “We do have consequences for not helping, but don’t reward for helping. We praise and appreciate (and ask them to notice what we do for them).” And really, isn’t that something we all want?

Making it Easier

We all know words are powerful, and the word “chore” is powerfully unappealing: it just sounds like drudgery. Dr. G recommended taking a poll around the dinner table to rename the concept to make it easier to deal with. “Tidying,” for example, sounds a little more quick and brisk.

Many of us struggle with whining from kids who don’t want to do chores, or having to repeatedly remind kids to do them. Stefanie said that getting kids in the habit of doing their chores from a young age helps: “We started them young and now they just do it because it is what they do.” If you didn’t start early, though, don’t fret; it’s never too late to learn. Missing out on a fun activity or use of a game or toy can be a consequence for not getting a chore done. And Dr. G says that the imposition of an additional task to do can be an effective consequence for whining about chores.

In the end, as Stefanie said, “Doing chores around the house is more about teaching my kids to be responsible adults as they prepare to leave my house than forcing them to do work.” Raising good adults–that’s number one on every mom’s to-do list. Teaching our kids to do some of the other stuff frees us up to do it.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

April 4, 2012 by The Motherhood

I have two persistent challenges with my kids (well, more like two hundred, but only two that I’m willing to cop to today): getting them to eat good foods, and getting them to unplug and go outside.

Turns out these two problems, which look different on their faces, might have the same solution – and it’s right outside my back door.

Angela Sydnes, of Grow Inspired, joined us in The Motherhood, along with Cynthia Oberdier, Tracy Michele, Fran Fainman, Bean, Stephanie Girgen, and Rain Zeccolo to talk about growing edible plants, and getting our kids involved.

Some of you may be master gardeners already, and your toddlers are probably out back now preserving strains of heirloom tomato seeds as we speak. I am not quite a master gardener, by which I mean that I can kill a plant at twenty paces just by looking at it. So I really appreciated the panel’s advice on getting started.

Cynthia emphasized the importance of research: know what you want to grow, and how much room you have to work with. Tracy Michele chimed in on the importance of good soil, and knowing the pH of your vegetables and making sure your soil is right for them. And Stephanie reminded us that we don’t have to garden perfectly, we just have to garden. Get some good compost, mix it in with the top 6-8 inches of soil, and go.

Once your soil is set, Bean suggested, many farmer’s markets have veggie starts that you can just transplant into your soil – no need to start from seeds.

If you do start from seeds, and you have little hands helping you, Bean recommends large seeds like peas, beans, and squash. Fran seconded the motion on squash, because it’s beautiful and easy to grow.

Rain offered that microgreens and cherry tomatoes are favorites of kid gardeners, as are herbs like chives. Herbs have the added advantage of being container friendly and usable in a wide variety of dishes, so kids get the pride of being able to contribute to a lot of meals.

Kids tend to like to eat what they grow, and Stephanie suggested growing what they like to eat: a pizza garden, with a Roma tomato plant, a green pepper plant, and some basil.

The panel offered creative suggestions for getting the kids out there in the garden in the first place. Angela recommended quick-sprouting seeds like radishes for instant gratification, and having a special space where the kids have their own tools, and can dig as much as they want. Stephanie says her little girl has her own tools that match mom’s (but not gloves–pointless, and “dirt doesn’t hurt”).

Rain said that theme gardens are great; in addition to the idea of a pizza garden, a salsa or tea garden might appeal. She also recommended getting older kids involved in the planning and mapping of a garden, especially if they like to draw. Tracy Michele also offered the idea of seasonal gardening in crates: microgreens and beans in the spring, for example, and Mediterranean herbs and eggplant in the summer.

Some of us have less-than-ideal spaces for our ideal gardens. If lack of space is a limitation, grow up – literally up. Many kid-friendly plants can be grown on trellises or fences: peas, beans, cucumbers, and even pumpkins. Too much shade? Stephanie suggested that “veggies grown just for their foliage, like lettuce, kale, spinach, can take more shade than veggies that need to flower and fruit, like tomatoes.” Angela also pointed out that many herbs grow well in shade.

Fran reassured us that “anyone can grow anything,” and the panel unanimously recommended herbs for those of us who consider ourselves black thumbs. Angela advised that over- or under-watering is an area in which people struggle, but that good fertilization and plenty of sun help. Fran recommended growing herbs with similar growing conditions together, and Angela offered this helpful information for growing cilantro in containers.

But Stephanie gave perhaps the most reassuring advice of all: ‘Gardening is all experimentation, really, even for seasoned gardeners. Mother Nature’s really the one in control, after all.”

Cook Like a Pro – Twenty Terrific Kitchen Tricks with Sommer Collier

March 21, 2012 by The Motherhood

Hi, my name’s Becki, and I’m a food addict.

Luckily for my family, I’m not just addicted to eating it, I’m addicted to shopping for and preparing it, too. When I saw that The Motherhood was hosting a video chat about cooking with Sommer Collier of A Spicy Perspective, I knew I’d be watching. I figured even an old hand in the kitchen like me could pick up a tip or two, but I was wrong.

I picked up TWENTY tips. I’d used a few of them before, but most were brand-new to me. And they weren’t tips like “choosing the proper spoon for your caviar.” They were time-saving, effort-saving, and money-saving tips I’ll use all the time. Read on; I bet you will, too.

You can watch the video here, too.

http://youtu.be/Em_J_vAl6hc

Sommer Collier’s Twenty Terrific Kitchen Tips:

Trick #1: Chopping an onion without tears: Tears are caused by the gases onions release when they’re cut. Stick onions in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before chopping, to slow the release of the gases. Cut the onion in half, then do a horizontal cut toward the root end, cut toward the root, and then cut crosswise. This keeps the onion together, which also helps reduce those pesky gases.

Trick #2: How to peel garlic easily: Take one clove at a time, and, placing the flat edge of a knife on the garlic, give it a good whack with your hand. This loosens the paper and flattens the garlic so it doesn’t move around as you chop or mince it.

Trick #3: Getting more juice out of a lemon: Microwave a hard lemon for 10-20 seconds, then roll it on the countertop to get the juices flowing before you even cut it open.

Trick #4: Selecting and cutting avocados: You don’t have to squeeze! That bruises the ones you don’t pick. Instead, pick off the belly-button looking stem. This will show you the color of the avocado on the inside. When you get your avocado home, start cutting at the top, down toward the seed, then rotate the avocado. When you have your avocado halves, slice them while in the skin. Turn the skin inside out, and out pop your slices!

Trick #5: Making chocolate curls: Use your vegetable peeler along the edge of the chocolate. If you’re not getting large curls, make sure all the foil is off the chocolate bar, microwave for 5 seconds, and try again with the slightly warmer chocolate.

Trick #6: How to shave meat very thin for stir-fries and quick-cook recipes: Put your meat in the freezer just for 20-30 minutes before slicing. This allows it to firm up enough for cutting control, but doesn’t make it a solid block.

Trick #7: How and when to peel ginger: Ginger doesn’t always need to be peeled. If the skin is tight and firm, not dry and wrinkled, you don’t need to peel it if you don’t want to – ginger peel is edible. If you do want to peel, scrape along the side of the ginger root with the edge of a spoon. The skin comes right off!

Trick #8: Making your own buttermilk: If you need buttermilk for a recipe but don’t want to buy a whole quart, try this: take regular plain milk and add a little mild acid, like vinegar or lemon juice. Use one cup of milk, less a tablespoon, and add a tablespoon of your acid. Let this sit for a few minutes, and voila! A perfect substitute.

Trick #9: Removing corn silk from ears of corn: Take a clean, damp, paper towel, and rub down your shucked corn. No need for more expensive, and less-effective brushes or gadgets.

Trick #10: How to neatly slice soft produce: Think mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, strawberries: Take the produce, stick a fork in one end, and use the fork for leverage against the cutting surface so you don’t squash the produce while holding it down with one hand.

Trick #11: Leveling a cake: Use dental floss! Take a length of plain, unwaxed floss, wrapped tightly around your fingers, and pull toward you across the top of the cake layer. This avoids the uneven layering you get from using a serrated knife. This trick also works great for slicing soft cheeses, cheesecake, and even ice cream.

Trick #12: Making fluffy scrambled eggs: Avoid cooking on high heat, and make sure you get enough air in your eggs. Crack eggs into a bowl with high sides, add a splash of milk, and beat with a whisk or an actual egg beater until you have a fluffy, bubbly consistency (1-2 minutes with an egg beater, 3-4 with a whisk). It takes time and muscle, but it gets the air into the eggs! Then cook over low heat. Add the salt close to the end of cooking; if you do it earlier, it breaks down the air pockets and reduces the fluffy factor.

Trick #13: Saving leftover herbs: Herbs are expensive to buy, and what do you do with the leftovers once you’ve made your recipe? Dice unused herbs, place in an ice tray, just barely cover with water, and freeze. Sommer says this works great with parsley, cilantro, thyme, even green onions. Ice cube trays also work for saving small bits of stock, wine, or coffee for use in cooking, too. Once frozen, pop the cubes loose and store in a freezer bag.

Trick #14: How to clean a cast iron skillet the right way: Sommer credited talk co-host Robyn Stone of Add a Pinch with this one: take a little kosher salt, sprinkle it in the dirty skillet, and rub with a paper towel. Salt is a natural disinfectant, so it kills bacteria in your skillet. After you do this, pour a little oil in the skillet and rub it in. It’s like exfoliating and moisturizing your skillet! And, if you’ve ever wondered how to season a cast iron skillet, Robyn offers this tip from her blog.

Trick #15: Measuring sticky substances: I love making cookies with honey or molasses, but measuring them is a pain. Sommer says, if your recipe calls for oil, measure that first. That way, the measuring spoon is coated, so the sticky substance slides off of the measuring spoon or cup. If your recipe doesn’t call for oil, spray your spoon or cup with nonstick cooking oil spray. Speaking of which…

Trick #16: Homemade nonstick cooking oil spray: Did you know that commercial nonstick sprays contain additives that can harm your pots, pans, and baking stones? I didn’t. Sommer’s solution: Use a dollar store spray misting bottle. Thin oils like vegetable oil (not olive) work best.

Trick #17: Make dulce de leche caramel sauce: Take cans of sweetened condensed milk, peel off label, put in a large pot of water with at least two inches of water over top of cans (very important). Bring to low boil and boil for four hours. Do several cans at a time so you have lots on hand. It’s delicious on everything, and it’s much less expensive than buying cans of dulce de leche.

Trick #18: Preparing fluffy rice: Fluffy or sticky rice depends on the water content. Most rice calls for two cups of water per one cup of uncooked rice. If you want sticky rice, add a little extra water. If you want fluffy rice, reduce the water to about 1 3/4 cups. Also, if you sauté the rice in a little butter or oil for a few minutes before adding the moisture, it will be perfectly fluffy and have a nice flavor. Sommer calls this the “Rice a Roni trick.”

Trick #19: Breathing new life into old spices: You can revive old spices by toasting them in a clean, dry skillet, tossing gently so the spice doesn’t burn. This helps the oils in the spice release; it even intensifies new spices. Works well for spices that start with a “c”: cinnamon, cumin, coriander, etc.

Trick #20: Making vanilla sugar: Add plain granulated sugar to a Mason jar. Stick a couple of nice, fresh, supple vanilla beans in the jar. Shake the jar to make sure the beans are covered. Let sit for a couple of weeks. You can keep adding sugar to the jar, removing the beans once they’ve “kind of petrified.” You can make vanilla extract by putting vanilla beans in vodka for 4 months or so. When you remove the vanilla bean, it makes a great vanilla paste. Vanilla sugar and vanilla extract make great gifts, and because you start them early, they’ll be ready to go during the hectic holiday season!

Bonus trick: Caramelizing onions — talk co-host Diane of Created by Diane says low and slow is the key. Stir sliced onions over low heat for about 20 minutes and they will caramelize beautifully.

http://youtu.be/Em_J_vAl6hc

Want more? Watch the video, and definitely visit the websites of Sommer and her culinarily gifted co-hosts:

Summer Collier ( A Spicy Perspective )

Robyn Stone (Add a Pinch)

Kristen Doyle ( Dine & Dish )

Angie McGowan (Eclectic Recipes )

Kathy Strahs (Cooking on the Side and Panini Happy)

Aggie (Aggie’s Kitchen)

Diane (Created by Diane)

Summer Child Care Tips and Activities

March 19, 2012 by The Motherhood

It’s only March, but summer seems like it’s approaching especially fast this year. And while “school’s out for the summer” is music to any kid’s ears, for parents seeking summer child care, it can be a little more complicated.

Katie Bugbee of Care.com, along with a number of other childcare experts, joined us in The Motherhood this afternoon to talk about the best ideas for free summer fun, how to start nanny co-ops, planning for summer child care and more.

Here are their 11 best ideas for keeping kids “healthily and happily occupied,” as Elizabeth of Poshbrood said, this summer:

1.) Hire a tween to help out. “Have you tried hiring a tween as a mother’s helper? Cheaper than off-site care…” recommended Cari, a certified family manager. On the flip side, if you have a tween, consider setting up an opportunity for him/her as a mother’s helper at one of your friend’s homes. “She gets some low-cost help, while you get some peace of mind. Your child gets work experience and companionship,” added Cari.

Katie of Care.com provided tips for hiring a summer sitter.

2.) Have an ice cream night. “My kids will ask every single night if we can walk to town to get ice cream. Which would be really fun but not affordable and it makes it a lot less special. So I like doing a Friday ice cream night,” suggested Kelcey, Mama Bird Diaries.

3.) Allow ample downtime. “Love the idea of letting the kids plan a day! My older girls would have a blast with that!” said Mandi, Life Your Way.

“I don’t think everyone needs to be on ALL the time – let them get bored, let them play pretend, let them sit and draw. Downtime is when kids can really get creative!” added mkelly.

4.) Pick the right camp for your kids. “Parents often ask me about traditional vs specialty focused camps. I recommend tradition first, where kids are supervised by the same counselors and exposed to a variety of activities, helping forge friendships and more. Progressive choice and specialization can follow if appropriate,” advised Jill, Everything Summer.

5.) Start a ‘Nanny Camp Co-op.’ “The idea is that [your nanny] partners with other nannies of the kids your kids love… and each one plans one day a week. And makes a whole lesson plan around it. Whether it’s catching frogs in a creek or going to the beach,” said Katie of Care.com.

6.) Take an inexpensive family vacation. “We go camping every year. I feel like it’s a must do because The Dudes love it and it’s pretty inexpensive once you have the gear,” said Amanda, Parenting by Dummies.

Mandi of Life Your Way suggested hitting the beach, and Brandie pointed out, “Staying local is a way to save money. See if there is a program in your area to buy like a mega-pass that will get you into lots of different places at a reduced rate. See what trips your local park district has. Etc, etc.”

7.) Assign chores. “I know it’s not nearly as fun as camps or activities — or even free play — but summer can be a great time to teach kids to cook, to help them learn a new chore, etc,” said Mandi of Life Your Way.

8.) Get outside. “We go to a local park with sprinklers and pack a picnic,” said Elizabeth of Poshbrood, and Kelcey of Mama Bird Diaries plans to “start and grow a vegetable garden” with her kids this summer.

9.) Be creative with rainy-day activities. “Outdoor plans get rained out? Roast mini-marshmallows together over a candle with wooden toothpicks (soak the picks in water first, and use a stable candle in a safe area),” suggested Cari, certified family manager.

10.) Check out local workshops. “We created a whole list of free – and semi-free – activities for the summer. Things you know like the library, local farms, etc. But also places like Michael’s craft store and Home Depot have really cheap workshops for kids,” said Katie of Care.com.

11.) Share childcare duties with friends. “Depending on your needs – full-time care or part-time – swapping with another family is a great way to find free, quality care. This is especially good for work-at-home moms,” recommended Mandi of Life Your Way.

Start planning now, and you and your kids will all enjoy your summer together! Have fun!

Raising Bilingual Kids

March 14, 2012 by The Motherhood

Bonjour. Hola. Ciao.

Chances are, most of us (and our kids) know how to say “hello” and a handful of other words in multiple languages. But what does it take to simultaneously teach your children more than one language and raise them to be truly bilingual?

We traded tips and ideas on exactly that with Ana and Roxana of Spanglish Baby, along with a number of others, in The Motherhood today. To find out more about the challenges, rewards and best practices for raising bilingual children, keep reading!

Is Bilingual Better?

“Bilingual is better! This is why I’m trying really hard to do as much as I can to get my children and myself to be bilingual,” said Justice Jonesie.

As Ana of Spanglish Baby pointed out, recent studies indicate that bilingual children:

– Concentrate better

– Are better multitaskers

– Are faster readers and better at reading comprehension

– Find it easier to learn new languages

When to Start Teaching a Second Language?

“THE SOONER THE BETTER!” said Ana of Spanglish Baby. “Children’s brains are programmed to learn all the sounds they are exposed to as soon as they are born and even in-utero.”

Three Main Methods for Teaching Two Languages

1. Minority Language at Home (mL@H)
This is when both parents speak the minority language (in the US it would be anything but English) at home ALL the time. Even media and books are in the minority language (or L2) as much as possible. No fear, the child WILL learn English from friends, the environment, school, etc

2. One Parent One Language (OPOL)
This is when one parent speaks one language and the other another language. This method seems complicated at first because it does require logistics and planning, however, it´s considered to be the most effective. The key is that both parents must be on board and very consistent.

3. Time & Place
This ones a little less common and might not deliver the level of fluency and complete bilingualism you can achieve with the other two methods. A scenario might be of a family using one language for two weeks and then switching over to the other language for the next two weeks. Or just choosing days of the week when the language is spoken. It can also be the child is exposed to a second language at school in a dual immersion program.

Are Immersion Programs Enough?

Many bilingual kids have parents who speak two language and speak the minority language at home (ML@H). However, “I think there are many opportunities for kids nowadays thanks to the Internet: bilingual books and tapes, bilingual radio stations and YouTube clips in foreign languages,” said Elisa of Mother Talkers. “I think regular exposure to the language is ideal and at least will plant the seeds for more language learning later on.”

Added Betiana, “For immersion programs to be effective, at least 50% of the time needs to be spent speaking/listening/reading/writing in the target language.”

“We don’t speak Spanish at home, so my kids do all their practice at school and I keep my fingers crossed it will be enough for them to become fluent,” said Sarah of Sarah and Sons.

When Kids Resist Becoming Bilingual

Even if your kids begin answering your questions in English, “continue answering in Spanish (even if your first instinct is to reply in English),” suggested Jeannette of Todobebe. “Ask your child to repeat the question or phrase in Spanish. You can even translate and reword in Spanish to get your point across, since your child might not remember all the words.”

Finding peers who speak the same second language as your child is also a major factor. “Playgroups are huge! So is travel and finding ways to making the language meaningful,” said Ana of Spanglish Baby.

“My kids rebel once in a while, or my son says ‘I don’t understand what you are saying,'” added Silvia of Mama Latina Tips. “That reminds me I need to read more in Spanish to them! Vocabulary!!”

Cultivating Both Languages

“The best way to expand your vocabulary in any language is by reading,” Jeannette of Todobebe pointed out.

“Heritage festivals are also big in our family,” said Grace of HapaMama. “Being in a space where kids can hear the language spoken organically, see music and dance, and take part in games in activities makes it come to life.”

For Stephanie of In Culture Parent, music is an effective method of teaching a new language. “It is consistently my kids’ music CDs in other languages that become their favorites and I’m amazed to see they can sing every word, even if they might not understand every word yet,” she noted.

And travel to countries where people speak the second language when you can. “Our boys’ Spanish blossomed when we spent 2 weeks in El Salvador this past summer,” said Tracy Lopez. “They learned more in those few days than they had in a year’s time at home.”

It’s Never Too Late

If you are raising bilingual kids but only speak one language yourself, there is still time to learn. “I’m raising 2 bilingual boys, 4 and 7,” said Silvia of Mama Latina Tips. “I’m bilingual, but learned English just 10 years ago. I tell my kids this all the time!!”

Sometimes teaching two languages can be tough, but the group agreed that you need to be consistent and persistent. And it will be worth it. As Roxana of Spanglish Baby said, “Congratulations to all who are raising bilingual children! You’re giving your children an incredible gift!”