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Cool Classroom Tech from PBS LearningMedia

Cool Classroom Tech from PBS LearningMedia

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When most of us were growing up, laser pointers were on the cutting edge of teaching technology.  In the classroom, educators used low-tech tools like the chalkboard and overhead projectors to get their point across.

 

We all know it’s a whole new world for our kids, with the invention of iPads and other gadgets with accompanying educational apps. We discussed the wide range of resources available for educating kids today during a chat in The Motherhood with Kim Smith, VP of Education at PBS, and Christina DeYoung, PBS LearningMedia and WGBH.

 

“As an educator, I can vouch for the vital role of technology in the classroom as a tool to increase student achievement, engagement, and to bring the real world into our classrooms,” said Elena of Ciao Mom.

 

Classrooms of the 21st Century

 

New classroom tech ranges from Smartboards – which are used as chalkboards or white boards but operate by touch – to iPod touches for math drills and handheld devices that students can use to respond to questions.

 

“My kindergartener uses the computer to indicate his lunch choice – buying (and which meal), buying milk, or packing,” said Amy of Teach Mama. “And our school uses a daily TV show, so that is broadcasted in the classrooms, and most days the kids spend at least 30 min in one of their ‘choice labs’ or free computer rooms.”

 

Michele of Scraps of My Geek Life said her kids have had a similar experience. “It’s funny because my husband and I will always say, ‘Can you see what is on the chalkboard?’ and my kids will look at us like, ‘chalkboard?'”

 

“93% of teachers believe that interactive whiteboards enrich classroom education,” said Kim Smith, VP of Education for PBS, but “it’s surprising to see how many whiteboards are not being utilized in a way that would make the learning more engaging. Good professional development and teachers embracing technology is key.”

 

Educational Apps

 

Beyond the technology itself, there are the programs used for teaching.

 

“My 5 year old loves Stack the States to learn about geography,” said Emily of West of the Loop. “We also like games that have an educational component like Where’s My Water, which teaches about fluid dynamics (really!) and Cover Orange, which also teaches about physics.”

 

“You can find lots of free educational game apps on Google Chrome, including ‘PBS Kids Play!'” said Karen of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires.

 

Christina DeYoung of PBS LearningMedia, along with several others, recommended “Super WHY! We’ve got lots of resources on PBSLM.”

 

 

Using PBS LearningMedia

 

“One challenge with technology in the classroom is that teachers need the right professional development to learn how to best integrate the tools. We have aimed to make PBS LearningMedia simple to use,” said Kim Smith.

 

And that helps homeschooling parents adapt, too. “Homeschoolers have used PBS content for many years – on-air and DVD,” Kim acknowledged. “They are really embracing the digital platform.”

 

Christina DeYoung of PBS LearningMedia had several simple suggestions for those getting started with using the site:

 

1) Sign Up. It’s FREE and easy to register!

 

2) Browse the Content. There are resources from favorite shows like Frontline, American Experience, Sid the Science Kid, and even Curious George… PBS LearningMedia has resources across K-12 covering all subjects. We’re the strongest in science with ELA social studies right behind. We’re also growing! Over 200 resources are added per month, and we’re working to add more PBS favorites for elementary students in particular.

 

3) Search and Save. The site has flexible features filters for searching and saving what you find, including a feature called “My Favorites,” which allows teachers to save resources in a personal area. Teachers can add custom keywords to organize the resources they way they see fit, and add notes for students. Provides a high level of customization.

 

“The resources look like they are extensive! It makes a teacher’s life so much easier to have great quality content in one place,” said Elena of Ciao Mom.

 

Agreed Karen of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires, “With budgets being cut everywhere, this free resource is wonderful!!”

 

For more on PBS LearningMedia, check out their Facebook page and website.

 

 

 

Join us for a Tweet Chat with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance on March 21st at 8 pm ET

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This week we’ll be co-hosting an informative and interesting Tweet Chat with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) to discuss where food comes from, consumer issues,  responsible farming and any questions you might have.

 

We will be joined by a real-life farmer/rancher, Jeff Fowle (@JeffFowle), to provide additional insights into how farmers work to improve the way they produce food.

 

We hope you’ll join us. Here are the details:

 

When: Wednesday, March 21, 8 – 9 p.m. ET

 

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #FoodD hashtag to track the conversation.

 

Hashtag: #FoodD

 

Prizes: USFRA will give away six total prizes – five skillets (one every 10 minutes) and a grand prize (a set of pots and pans) at the end of the Twitter party. Winners will be chosen randomly from among participants who respond correctly to trivia questions.

 

Hosts: @USFRA, @JeffFowle, @mombloggersclub & @theMotherhood

 

RSVP here!

 

If you are new to Tweet Chats (also known as Twitter Parties):

 

1) Join Twitter by signing up for a free account

 

2) Follow the party hosts: @USFRA, @JeffFowle, @mombloggersclub, @theMotherhood

 

3) Search for the party hashtag to follow the conversation: #FoodD (and be sure to type #FoodD at the end of every tweet you post during the party, so your tweet is “filed” into the conversation)

 

4) Use a free program, like Tweetgrid, to help you follow all the action. Here is an example of how Tweetgrid could help you follow the USFRA Tweet Chat (you’ll need to sign into your Twitter account to be able to post)

 

Other info: USFRA’s Facebook page

 

We’ll be joined by a fantastic line-up of blogger co-hosts. Be sure to follow them!

 

Amy of Grinning Cheek to Cheek, @GrinCheek2Cheek
Angela of Untrained Housewife, @UntrainedHW
Anne of Upstate Ramblings, @lunaj1456
Becca of Mama B Blog, @mamabmy
Connie of Brain Foggles, @ConnieFoggles
Lisa of New York Chica, @NewYorkChica
Liz of A Nut in a Nutshell, @blueviolet
Jenn of Frugal Upstate, @JennFowler
Karen of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires, @_Karen
Stefany of To Be Thode, @ToBeThode

 

 

 

About USFRA

 

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is a coalition of more than 70 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners who have come together to open a conversation about how our food is grown and raised.

 

It marks the first time farming and ranching groups at the national, regional and state levels, and our partners, have collaborated to lead the dialogue and answer Americans’ questions about how we raise our food.

 

American farmers and ranchers are stewards of the environment who responsibly care for our land, our animals, and our communities.

 

We believe in farming and ranching that is sustainable, and that continuously improves the health of our planet and grows strong American businesses.

 

Most important, USFRA is committed to solutions that provide healthy choices for people everywhere.

 

The stories and experiences of real farmers and ranchers are often left out of the conversations happening around America about food – USFRA is committed to helping consumers connect with farmers and ranchers to enrich the information available.

 

About Food Dialogues


The USFRA Food Dialogues program involves public forums, local and national events, and an ongoing discussion on the website – all with the goal of creating an open conversation.

 

The Food Dialogues website is managed by USFRA and was created to answer Americans’ questions about how our food is grown and raised.

 

USFRA hopes to bring together differing viewpoints on farming and ranching and the future of food to solve our most challenging problems.

 

Anyone is welcomed to post comments, participate in online conversations, and use hash tag #FoodD to join in the Food Dialogues discussion.

Summer Child Care Tips and Activities

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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!

Breastfeeding: Figuring Out What Works for You and Your Baby

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Just because breastfeeding is natural doesn’t always mean it’s easy.

 

There are moms frustrated by the fact that their baby isn’t latching, wondering, “What am I doing wrong?” And then there are the dilemmas about breastfeeding in public, using a breast pump, and managing toddlers while trying to nurse your baby.

 

We spoke about these and other issues today in The Motherhood with Nancy Holtzman, a mom & baby specialist, board certified lactation consultant and certified pediatric nurse.  She was joined by Cindy Meltzer of Isis Parenting and a group of experienced breastfeeding advocates.

 

You don’t have to go it alone

 

“Breastfeeding moms need to not be afraid of asking for help,” pointed out Lani, Armytbonegirl. “It doesn’t matter if your baby is 2 days old, 2 months old, or 10 months old. If you need help with ANYTHING, ask.”

 

It will seem better in hindsight

 

Breastfeeding might not be a walk in the park for you, and that doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom. As Nancy Holtzman said, “New moms often hear, ‘Oh my dear, enjoy it while you can! These are the most wonderful days/years,’ and while they may nod, inside they might be thinking, ‘OMFG, THIS is it? Because this is freaking hard and frankly I am NOT enjoying it very much right now.'”

 

Getting started with breastfeeding

 

Getting the hang of nursing won’t happen overnight, and it won’t always be a comfortable experience. “Took me a good 6-8 weeks to figure it all out and feel confident and get the right technique,” said anniestow.

 

“Take advantage of nurses for help while you’re in the hospital. Set appointments with lactation consultants for follow up after you leave. Also: good breastfeeding pillow,” recommended Jessica, Don’t Mind the Mess.

 

“Support is essential! Find a peer group of other new moms and those who will be supportive of breastfeeding,” added Nancy Holtzman.

 

And there are books you can use as references, too. “I can’t tell you how many times I referenced ‘So That’s What They’re For’ in the beginning,” said Kara, Bravado! Designs. “At least twice a day.”

 

Overcoming breastfeeding discomfort

 

Remember to take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. “I remember turning into a breastfeeding martyr,” said Roxanna of Everyday Treats. “I had cracked, bleeding nipples, cried through every feeding…until a lactation consultant told me to take a night off, and then I realized that I have to feel good in order to nurse well.”

 

Nancy Holtzman recommended several products for healing sore and/or cracked nipples: a Nipple Shield worn during feeding, and a Breast Shell, worn over your nipples inside your bra, to allow air to flow and prevent anything from pressing on the nipples.  “These breast shells can be very helpful to help heal sore nipples sooner,” she said.

 

“Another product that saved me during my sore/cracked nipple stage: The Lansinoh Soothies. They’re gel pad that you can reuse and helped my skin get back to normal,” added Roxanna of Everyday Treats.

 

Nursing in public

 

Location can make a difference when it comes to nursing outside the privacy of your home. “I’m happy and almost eager to nurse in public when we’re in a very public place, like a park or a store,” said Megan, The Other Baby Book. “But in a semi-private place, I’m a little more shy. Like, dinner parties, or over a friend’s house in mixed company…especially if I know other women are bottle feeding or their husbands feel awkward about it.”

 

For public spaces, “I carried a cover at first, but as long as I was wearing a tank underneath my clothes (I didn’t want to show my tummy) it wasn’t an issue,” said Roxanna, Everyday Treats. “I’ve nursed in restaurants, planes, malls, churches … people really didn’t notice. Or rather, I didn’t look at people (i.e., seek out eye contact) so I never noticed.”

 

Crystal of Expat Bostonians took a different approach. “I’ve never used a blanket, and I’ve never been harassed,” she said, but she still keeps “a copy of the 50 state’s laws with me. I’ve never actually had someone give me attitude, but knowing I have them printed out and with me makes me feel stronger.”

 

Nursing among friends

 

At gatherings of family and friends, some women are more comfortable with leaving the room and nursing in private, but you don’t necessarily need to separate yourself from the group. “When we had visitors I told them they were welcome to come over as long as they weren’t squirrelly over the possibility of seeing my boob,” noted Christine, Boston Mamas. “I was not going to relegate myself elsewhere in my own house!”

 

Added Stephanie, Exclusively Pumping, “I would often make a ‘grand announcement’ to let everyone know I was feeding my daughter. If they had issues with it, they were welcome to leave.”

 

“It can be hard when guests (especially family) are not supportive or make you feel awkward,” Charlene, Charlene Chronicles acknowledged.  She recommended, “Pick the battles, and when you have to excuse, [use the time for] reading, catching up on email, talking to friends or tweeting.”

 

Bottle feeding and the “pumping zone”

 

You can pump breast milk and use it to bottle feed your baby – especially if you’re a working mom or you just want a break once in a while while your significant other handles the feeding.

 

“I cannot recommend enough the Simple Wishes bustier. Hands free pumping action = awesome. Cindy Meltzer from Isis bossed me into buying it,” said Christine of Boston Mamas.

 

For those experiencing pumping discomfort, “I suggest trying a fingertip dab of Olive Oil to lubricate the breast pump flange tunnel when pumping rather than lanolin,” suggested Nancy Holtzman. “Lanolin is thick and sticky and not very good at reducing friction. Olive oil is thin and slippery and a healthy skin conditioner.”

 

Nancy went on, “introducing the bottle seems to work best between weeks 3 – 5. Babies are interested in sucking and if there’s milk coming out, even better. Most babies take the bottle fairly easily at that stage.”

 

Keeping toddler siblings busy while breastfeeding

 

What to do when you’re breastfeeding baby and your toddler wants to play?  “Television,” said Cindy Meltzer of Isis Parenting. “I’m not kidding, and I’m not ashamed. It’s not forever and my kid is not a TV watching zombie as a result. But boy was it a lifesaver in those early months of bfing my daughter.”

 

Charlene of Charlene Chronicles added, “I’ve heard to have a basket nearby with only toys that the toddler can play with when you are BFing. They get to play with the ‘special basket’. And just rotate the toys out. Doesn’t have to be expensive things. Even dollar store stuff.”

 

Additional Resources

 

You can ask Nancy Holtzman additional breastfeeding questions on her weekly Isis Parenting Breastfeeding Webinar, every Thursday at 12 PM (ET). Using the same link, you can view recorded topics on demand.

Parenting Without Power Struggles

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I remember, back in my long-ago single days, a spring evening spent shopping for clothes. As I stood waiting to pay for my purchase, a woman behind me wrangled two kids under five, yanking them out from under clothing displays and displaying impatience and temper that I was sure I would never feel, much less reveal, as a parent. My judgment must have shown on my face, because the woman paused to snarl at me, “What are YOU looking at?”

 

My future, apparently. How many times have I wished I could go back and apologize to that mom? About as many times as I’ve tried to corral my kids in a store, or get them to pick up their toys, or brush their teeth, or stop fighting. At least I’m not alone; every mom I’ve ever met has had power struggles with her kids—often on a daily basis.

 

So it was wonderful to have Susan Stiffelman, family therapist, Huffington Post Parent’s resident Parent Coach, and author of Parenting Without Power Struggles, on board today to discuss what we can do to make things easier on ourselves, and our kids, without totally ceding control. Susan was joined by a great panel, including Jenny Rapson, Sarah Auerswald, Lisa Frame, Shari , Stacy  and Crystal.

 

“I wanna be the one…in control.”

Susan said that most of the parenting power struggles arise from a need to control. Not just ours, but our kids’ need to control their environments, and to feel like they matter: “I’ve found with chronic issues/ power struggles with kids is that generally speaking, when our kids know that we like them, when they feel “seen” by us and all that good stuff, they’re more naturally inclined to cooperate than when they feel like they’re just the agent by which we get things checked off our list. That’s more when they dig in their heels.”

 

Making “Sunday Afternoon” work for you

One common issue, brought up by Lisa, was a lack of personal responsibility on her son’s part, with the example of his failure to take some needed medication on a regular basis. Shari cited her biggest power struggle, with her daughter, over a lack of respect. For both of these scenarios, Susan offered the “Sunday Afternoon Act,”  which involves taking advantage of a time when you and your child are relaxed and connected to address a big issue. For example, you might say to your child, “Honey, there’s something I’d like to talk with you about…is now a good time?” Assuming you get a positive response, proceed with, “I notice that when I ask you to do something, it seems hard to answer me in a friendly way. Tell me what that’s about…” Then comes the hard part: staying quiet and LISTENING, with a lot of “tell me more” before you start discussing what to do instead. By doing this, Susan suggests,  you might uncover something that’s fueling your child’s behavior that you otherwise wouldn’t. This technique works best in situations in which your child is old enough to discuss the problem–and because they feel heard, it helps them “buy in” to the solution.

 

The Power (Struggle) of the Plate

 

Who couldn’t relate to Sarah’s chief parenting power struggle–how to get her son to eat what’s on his plate? It’s been a chronic issue at my house, too. Susan says that food is a very common bone of contention between parents and kids. She offers a couple of pieces of sage advice on this score: first (and easier said than done): try to care less, or at least try to show it less. When kids know we’re heavily invested in what/how much they eat, Susan says, “It promotes push-backs.” Also, consider involving your child in meal planning, shopping, cooking, or serving the food. And as Crystal pointed out, a child isn’t going to starve himself–eventually, he will eat, so try not to stress too much about it.

 

We now interrupt this power struggle currently in progress…

 

Jenny gave voice to a question many of us share: how do you defuse a power struggle that’s going on right now? Susan counseled, “My first thing of course is to avoid them; using the Captain of the ship analogy, it means scanning the horizon for storms. If your 3 year old is already losing it, don’t take her to the grocery store at 5 pm. But if you didn’t see it coming, and there’s a power struggle, stick to saying things or asking questions that he/she would say “yes” to at least three times….This diffuses the energy and helps the child feel heard and soften for your guidance.” Again, a child is more likely to listen if she feels listened to.

 

The theme of kids being more willing to comply with our agendas when they “feel seen”  arose repeatedly in the chat.  Susan referred to it as not being “lost to the list.” She observed, “Our kids feel sort of shuffled about…they tend to express their resentment about that by moving vveerrryyy sslloowwllyy….” That’s why she advises a few minutes of joke-telling/song-singing/snuggling to start off the morning routine. Once the kids have that few minutes of attention, they’re more likely to roll with their parents’ agendas.

 

Don’t forget what you’re doing right

 

Susan reminded everyone to acknowledge their best parenting moments. Stacey cited her pride in the good manners she’s taught her kids; Sarah mentioned being able to listen to her kids with compassion, but without too much ego investment in the outcome of the discussion. Crystal said her pride comes from the fact that her kids “feel loved, no matter what.” Just as we all have our struggles, we all have those things that we’re doing right. We need to stay aware of them, if only to remember that we’re good moms, in spite of the inevitable struggles.

 

More resources:

See Susan on the Today Show!

Purchase “Parenting without Power Struggles”

Susan’s website

Raising Bilingual Kids

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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!”