Use dual-language books to boost your child's literacy. Part 1

A fun way for a child or independent reader to enjoy and succeed with “reading” and learning a second language is with the use of dual books.

These unique books have same text in two different languages in each page and while readers explore a second language compare it with their own they start out on a path toward fluency in their new language.

Readers soon discover that they don’t need to learn every single new word that they encounter in the second language. As unfamiliar words reappear in the context of the story, readers will pick up their meaning effortlessly just as they pick up and understand new words in their own language.

Learn about the many benefits of dual-language books. Find out HOW you can use your first language to boost your child’s English and/or Spanish reading and comprehension.

Is English your second language?

How does knowledge of first language help my child learn English?

1. Continued development of the first language supports linguistic and cognitive development in English; some experts warn that children who stop developing their first language before they have become fluent in the second may not have enough proficiency in either language to perform academic tasks

What is Linguistic development? Linguistic development, also known as language development, refers to a process that begins VERY EARLY IN LIFE and every leads to the development of a child's language skills. As an adult, this process is more structured as you learn the second and 3rd language.

What is Cognitive development? Cognitive development refers to the construction of a thought process that includes problem solving, remembering and the ability to make decisions from childhood up to the adulthood stage. This ability to learn, reason and analyze the fact that a process begins from infancy and progresses as the individual grows. It involves activities that are concious intellectual like thinking and remembering.

2. It allows children to think, talk, read and write at a higher level than if they were limited to using English only

3. Children who already have knowledge of one language have a useful tool when learning a new language

Source: Peel District School Board and Barron’s Educational

To learn more about the interesting bilingual stories in Lets Read! in Spanish and English series. CLICK HERE

Why is it that young adults still prefer Printed Books vs eBooks ?

Today’s young adults are always up to date on the newest fads, knowledge of the best apps,  and latest viral videos - thanks to the extended reach of the technologically advanced world we now live in. However, recent research shows that one trend that hasn’t quite become so popular is the transition from traditional print books to eBooks. According to a recent survey from The Guardian[1], 62% of young adults’ ages 16-24 years old prefer traditional books over electronic books. This statistic may seem very surprising to many given the constant rate of change in taste in today’s popular culture, the pace at which young people are exposed to the latest trends, and how quickly they adapt to it and make it their own.

Now you may be wondering; how is this possible in today’s culture? Well, according to Luck Mitchell of Agency Voxburner - his research suggests that these young adults prefer print media as they feel there is more emotional and monetary value that can be extracted from hardcopy books as oppose to eBooks. Additionally, individuals from this group also indicated that they prefer to physically hold the product, as their mobile or tablet devices restrict product utility, packaging preferences, resale value and ease of sharing.

Another striking statistic lies in young adults’ preference in physical vs. virtual products; where most youngsters prefer hard copy versions of newspapers, magazines, movies, etc. Although both mediums serve their purpose of conveying a story and message through words, the emotional attachment to print books far outweighs the convenience of eBooks. Readers who pride themselves on their vast book collections tend to lean towards the side of printed books, as there is mere satisfaction in looking at a packed bookshelf. Therefore, the physicality of owning printed books as oppose to having them stored electronically in one place - although quite convenient, loses some of its pizazz to these avid readers.

All in all however, although eBooks represent another facet of where the world of technology is headed, it is important to note that not every new trend will be replacing the value of traditional media such as printed books.

Transport yourself to a world of beauty and serenity with the Day of the Dead Celebration

As in other countries in the world, there are different ways to worship our ancestors, but what is the relevance of this celebration in our time and in a country like Canada? Why would you child benefit by being exposed to this celebration?

We believe we live in a world that is becoming more diverse, and diversity is something to be valued especially in a country like Canada - that successfully offers more inclusive communities in which our children can identify themselves, and effectively mingle with children different from themselves in several aspects. 

In celebrating the occasion of the Day of the Dead in Mexico primarily, and in some other countries in Latin America, we took on the task of collecting books to learn more about this unique celebration.

The celebration of the Day of the Dead generates curiosity, wonder, fascination and as it is mentioned by the Mexican Publisher Artes de Mexico:

"Unlike those who believe that Mexico’s culture of the death has already been thoroughly explored, we are more inclined to think it comprehends a richer universe than what is widely claimed, and that there is much to be learned about it. For those who have an outsider's view of these celebrations, they are sure to find many surprises. 

More than a celebration of the dead, are the creators of these works not celebrating life?

Might these rituals not be an intense prolongation of life in the midst of death?

Day of the Dead: Ritual Serenity By Artes de Mexico

Come discover it for yourself with your family on Nov 9 and 10 at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.

Aviva tus raíces, fortalece tu identidad y la de tus hijos!

El Día de Muertos es una celebración mexicana que honra a los ancestros durante el 2 de noviembre, coincidiendo con la celebración católica del Día de los Fieles Difuntos. Aunque se ve primariamente como una festividad mexicana, también se celebra en menor medida en algunas partes de Latinoamérica, en muchas comunidades de Estados Unidos y ahora también en Canada.

Los orígenes de la celebración del Día de Muertos en México, pueden ser trazados hasta la epoca de los indígenas de Mesoamérica, tales como los Aztecas, Mayas, Purepechas, Nahuas y Totonacas. Los rituales que celebran las vidas de los ancestros se realizaron por estas civilizaciones por lo menos durante los últimos 3,000 años.

Las festividades eran presididas por el dios Mictecacihuatl, conocido como la "Dama de la muerte" (actualmente corresponde con "la Catrina"). Las festividades eran dedicadas a la celebración de los niños y las vidas de parientes fallecidos.

Cuando los conquistadores españoles llegaron a América en el siglo XV, ellos estuvieron aterrados por las practicas paganas de los indígenas, y en un intento por convertir a los nativos americanos al catolicismo cambiaron la celebracion  a inicios de noviembre para que coincidieran con las festividades católicas del Día de todos los Santos y Todas las Almas. El Día de Todos los Santos es un día después de Halloween.

Fuente:
http://diadelosmuertos.yaia.com/historia.html

Como celebrar?
1. Prepara un altar con velas decoradas, flores de cempasuchil (marigolds), fotos.
2. Escribe calaveritas divertidas, quiza con un poco de poesia o epitafios
3. Prepara un ofrenda con la comida que mas le gustaba a las personas que desees recordar. Incluir pan de muerto http://www.panchosbakery.ca/ y calaveritas de azucar o chocolate seria una buena idea.

Que la distancia o el tiempo no impidan que tus hijos crezcan sin el importante componente cultural  que fortalecera su identidad.

¿Ahora que vives en Canada, te sorprendes al verte interesado en temas o actividades relacionadas con tu pais de origen?, que tal vez  no te habrias involucrado antes?
- sí
- no
- ¿Por qué crees que es eso?

¿Sientes que tal vez valoramos más las cosas cuando no las tenemos cerca?

Nos interesa tu opinion. 

Las primeras 5 personas en enviarnos sus comentarios podran obtener un DVD GRATIS. Es un documental sobre el dia de muertos.

Gracias y saludos,
Celina Gutierrez, Founder, Tap Peques
Esperamos verte en : http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/seasonalfestivals/index.cfm?id=5645&festival_id=152

Keeping Kids Off the Summer Slide

Something is waiting for many children each summer and their parents don’t even know it’s out there. It's called the "summer slide," and it describes what happens when young minds sit idle for three months.

As parents approach the summer break, many are thinking about the family vacation, trips to the pool, how to keep children engaged in activities at home, the abrupt changes to everyone's schedule—and how to juggle it all. What they might not be focusing on is how much educational ground their children could lose during the three-month break from school, particularly when it comes to reading.

Experts agree that children who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who do not often slide backward. According to the authors of a report from the National Summer Learning Association: "A conservative estimate of lost instructional time is approximately two months or roughly 22 percent of the school year.... It's common for teachers to spend at least a month re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer. That month of re-teaching eliminates a month that could have been spent on teaching new information and skills."

Summer slide affects millions of children each year but it doesn't have to. Please join us on our new Facebook group dedicated to provide and exchange reading tips and learn from everyone's experience.

Copy/paste following link in the internet browser:

in Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TapPeques?fref=ts 

Keep learning fun throughout the summer break and the rest of the year.

Source: Reading is fundamental 

Canada….. a nice fusion of different flavors

Happy Canada Day everyone! Let's take this day to celebrate the history, diversity and multiculturalism of this beautiful nation.

We live in a world that is becoming more diverse, and Canada recognizes that our diversity is something to be valued. Canada is a nation of many different historical, cultural and racial origins, of diverse political and religious views, and of various socioeconomic classes and behavioral norms.

Through the application of multicultural policies, Canada successfully offers more inclusive communities in which our children can identify themselves, and effectively mingle with different children than themselves in several aspects.

Canada has experienced different  waves of immigration since the nineteenth century, and by the 1980s almost 40 percent of the population were of neither British nor French origins (the two largest groups, and among the oldest)

Did you know that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has granted Canadian citizenship to nearly 200,000 new citizens each year?

The most successful pluralist society on the face of our globe, without any doubt .... That is something unique to Canada. It is an amazing global human asset.

Why diversity should be valued?

The term diversity is defined as the property of being different and it should be valued because the various differences are meant to complement each other and come up with better results in the long run.

Also, diversity is reflected in the increasingly global connections among peoples throughout the world.

Multiculturalism in Canada

Multiculturalism helps in bringing together immigrants and minorities in the country and pushes them towards being part of the Canadian society as a whole. Cultural appreciation of ethnic and religious diversity promotes a greater willingness to tolerate differences.

What is Culture?

Idealized definition: The way our ancestors speak through us

Culture-Working Definition Learned traditions, loyalties, beliefs, customs that guide behavior of a group of people

We are all multicultural!

Members of many groups that have cultural aspects, gender, social class, regional, ethnicity, religious, race, values and beliefs, customs and traditions, cultural elements, language/communication patterns, diet and food preparation, dress and/or body decoration, religious practices, family structure, view of time may vary, recreation-athletic games.

"In order for children to identify with the world around them, to appreciate and value the differences and similarities of other people to themselves, it is important for them to first discover their own identities”.

Zena Sutherland and May Hill Arbuthnot

Do not miss the opportunity to expose your children to the Spanish language and your cultural background, they will thank you for that later.

www.TapPeques.com

Tips to Learning in a Multi-language home

The great part of our society is the coming together of different cultures.  More and more we are seeing interracial couples with different heritages, allowing our future generations to be even more inclusive and tolerant of differences.  The way to strengthen this is to allow children of different cultural heritages to learn both languages and cultures.   However managing this can be a difficult and sometimes daunting task, so we have put together some tips.  

First, let’s deal with the misconception that people always ask.  Can children really learn a second language at a very early age without disturbing their language development? The answer is YES. With very young children, a second language is learnt the same way children learn a first language, which is to say, not really teaching them a language but exposing them to the language. Their minds are like sponges, so exposure at a young age will enable them to grasp the languages.  Now that we have addressed that question, here are the tips we suggest:

1)   Read to them in the various languages – we have heard from many experts that we should be reading to our children daily at a young age.  Not only does it create the love of reading, but reading to them in different languages will help them understand and grasp the language.

2)    Be patient – many people react to the fact that maybe a child learning two languages will take longer to develop communication skills with everyone. It is not that the child’s development is delayed; it takes a little longer for them to process and grasp the languages.  It will not delay your child’s development in the long term.  It is simply that your child is recognizing and producing sounds in more than one language system and that process takes time and practice

3)    Communicate to them in the language – Each parent should communicate to the children in the language.  This will not be confusing, as the child will learn to differentiate the two languages and know to communicate to one parent vs. the other in the specific language.

4)    Don’t switch during emotional situations – It is not beneficial to change from one language to another during an emotional situation.  This will negatively impact the child’s view on the language, as they will associate negative feelings with the language.  Be consistent!

5)    Be patient - Raising multilingual children requires patience, and there are going to be times when doubt sneaks in. As with most aspects of parenting, it's a long term commitment and there will be ups and downs.

The challenge with raising a multi-lingual home will be making sure not to alienate the other parent.  If one does not understand the other language, make it a fun experience.  As the children get older, have them explain the words to the other parent, improving their knowledge and grasp of the language.  The key is that it will also bring a family unit a little closer together. 

Making a Healthy Spanish Meal In 20 Minutes

The romantic language, rich heritage, and beautiful architecture that the Spanish Culture has provided us are also accompanied by delicious, healthy foods.  We are all very busy and trying to prepare a healthy meal is often challenging.  Our kids keep us very busy – sports, homework, our careers, and many other factors make meal preparation time very challenging.  Here is a recipe for Spanish Chicken that you and your family can enjoy - Spanish chicken and chorizo. 

First, let’s start with the ingredients required:

·         plain flour, for dusting

·         1 chicken, jointed

·         4 tbsp olive oil

·         2 chorizo sausages, cut into 2cm long pieces

·         2 medium onions, chopped

·         8 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped

·         2 red peppers, finely diced

·         2 green peppers, finely diced

·         2 yellow peppers, finely diced

·         2 sprigs thyme

·         2 bay leaves

·         1 heaped tsp smoked paprika

·         1 X 440g can chopped tomatoes

Now for the preparation:

1.       Season a little plain flour with salt and pepper and dust the chicken in seasoned flour.

2.       Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan and fry the chorizo until brown.

3.       Remove the chorizo from the pan and fry the chicken for about 10 minutes.

4.       Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

5.       Add onions, garlic and peppers to the pan and cook gently until soft.

6.       Stir in bay leaves, thyme and paprika and fry for about 1 minute.

7.       Add the chopped tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through.

8.       Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Many families struggle with putting together a healthy meal with limited time.  To help make it work, prepare your menu on the weekend allowing you the time to reflect and plan accordingly.  Looking at your schedule you can determine how much time you have on the various evenings, allowing you to plan appropriately.  Join us for our recipe competition on Facebook to find other great recipes for you and your family.  Learn more about Spanish for kids at Tap Peques.

CONECTATE CON TUS HIJOS

“Si quieres aprender una de las mejores, mas rapidas y efectivas lecciones de humildad y subordinacion, coviertete en papa o mama”

Asi es como Gaby Vargas inicia el capitulo sobre “Conectate con tus hijos” en su libro Conectate.

En Diciembre del ano pasado me encontre con el libro de Gaby Vargas, CONECTATE, y realmente fue un encuentro porque yo en realidad estaba buscando un bloqueador ya que estaba de vacaciones en una de las hermosas playas de mi querido Mexico. Asi es, tal vez el hermoso detalle de una pequena gota de agua en una hoja verde en su portada, su titulo CONECTATE, y por supuesto el sello de garantia de Gaby Vargas, me hizo determe y comparlo de inmediato.

Que mejor escenario que las playas de Mexico para leer un libro como este. Realmente me cambio mi vacaciones no podia parar de leer, pero claro que puse varias pausas porque que una de las razones mas importantes de estar ahi era … conectarme… con mi familia, especialmente con mis padres a quienes no habia visto en varios meses. Lo mejor fue, que a mi regreso a la Ciudad de Mexico me dio una fuerte gripa, si, digo que bueno porque esa fue la unica forma de terminar de leer mi libro.

Gaby Vargas dice : “Los papas somos los que contribuimos en mayor grado a definir el tipo de mirada que se forma en nuestros hijos”.

Vaya tarea!!  Como lograrlo?

Gaby, maneja el tema con una gran delicadeza, certeza y a traves de algunas anecdotas nos deja ver lo sencilla y enriquecedora que seria la vida si vivieramos mas tranquilos, presentes y sin el constante bombardeo de informacion.

En lo personal creo que el hecho de que a traves de la tecnologia tengamos acceso a tanta y variada informacion, que nos da flexibilidad en tiempo y espacio es una maravilla que tenemos el honor de estar viviendo. Recuerdo un comentario de un “bookseller” en la reunion anual de la “Canadian booksellers Association” dijo, la tranformacion tecnologica en la industria del libro que estamos viviendo podria asimilarse a la transformacion del pergamino al libro. Todo cambio implica aprendizaje y adaptacion. Quiza los papas aun estamos inmersos y no dejamos de sorprendernos de esta maravilla tecnologica que no hemos aprendido a adaptarnos y poner en orden nuestras prioridades?

LA IMPORTANCIA DE UN ESCARABAJO

Un nino muy feliz entra a la casa para ensenarle a su mama unos escarabajos que encontro, “mira, mira, mami, ya viste sus colores?, No estan padrisimos?, pero lo unico que ve la mama es la posibilidad de que su casa se llene de bichos…..” y el nino dice… ni siquiera viste los tonos que tienen sus alas… y la mama le dice con enfado, lo bichos viven afuera.

PAPAS: DONDE ESTAMOS?

En otro de sus libros Quiubole con…. Gaby Vargas llega a la conclusion de que los jovenes no se sienten vistos. No se sienten escuchados. Se sienten abandonados emocionalmente.

Papas, despertemos!!. Cuando estamos presentes, no estamos en realidad, Siempre hay un cellular, un correo electronico que contestar, o bien, una novela que atender.  Somos una especie de agentes de trafico? Si … nuestra “comunicacion” se basa en preguntas, A donde vas? Hiciste tu tarea?, etc Claro sin contar que muchas veces lo hacemos por medio del celular.  

A eso le podemos llamar comunicacion? Sin por supuesto contar el hecho de que muchos de los hispanos que vivimos en Canada manejamos espanol, ingles y a veces hasta un tercer o cuarto idioma en casa.

Tal vez es momento de tomar un respiro, hacer una pausa, y reorganizar nuestras prioridades?

Cuanto tiempo te comunicas con tus hijos al dia?

En que idioma te sientes mas comodo para comunicarte con tus hijos?

Nos encantaria conocer tu opinion

Celina Gutierrez

Tap Peques

10 Facts about the Spanish Language

The worldwide map is full of interesting, diverse cultures with many rich and deep heritages.  Languages are one of the differentiators of various areas, but many people wonder if the Spanish Language is continuing to grow or where it ranks in the world of languages.  We have put together some facts from research we have completed.  Here are 10 facts that may interest you:

1.Spanish ranks as the world's No. 2 language in terms of how many people speak it as their first language.

2.Approximately 100 million people speak Spanish as a second language.

3.Second most important business language in the world after English.

4.Spanish Economy is the eight largest in the world.

5.Spanish is the fastest growing language. 

6.Spanish is second only to Mandarin by number of native speakers.

7.In the U.S. it is estimated that over 45 Million use Spanish as their first language.

8.After Latin, the language that has had the biggest influence on Spanish is Arabic.

9.Spanish is expected to be the first language of 50% of the population of the United States within 50 years.

10.Spanish is the most popular foreign language to learn in America and Europe.

The Spanish Language is growing in importance and some projections have stated that in the U.S. it will represent 50% of the population within the next 50 years.  This aggressive growth can be attributed to the growth in the global economy and the continued immigration to the United States.  It is important for our children to have the opportunity to have successful careers in the future, so it may be advantageous to have them learn the Spanish Language.  In Canada, Spanish still trails far behind English and French, but many people are looking to grow their knowledge of Spanish to expand their knowledge.  When looking for your Spanish Language books for kids, look no further then http://www.tappeques.com/

Shopping tips for Mom’s this Christmas Season

Christmas is an exciting time for everyone, but it can also be stressful when it comes to how much to spend.  As a Mom, it is difficult to manage how we can buy what they want, what they need, and doing it within a budget.  Here are some tips for you to think about as you prepare for the fun of Christmas shopping.

1. Set a budget

Before you even think of leaving for the mall, assess how much you are going to spend in total for Christmas.  Know exactly how much you can afford and how you will allocate it amongst all the people you need to buy for. 

2. Make a list and check it twice

Develop your list of people you are shopping for, but also what are you planning to buy.  Look at each person and determine what gift you want to buy them.  Making the decision prior to going shopping will help you make the shopping experience less stressful.  Rather than trying to figure out what you want to buy, you will be picking it up.  It will make the trip more time efficient and will ensure you remain within budget.  You can also review your child’s list and ensure that there is a balance between fun gifts, practical gifts, and gifts that may be educational (as well as fun).

3. Shop On-line

This is an effective way to shop.  While saving time, you can also find great savings on your regular purchases.  Avoid the crazy malls, line ups, and being pushed by other people in a frenzy to get their shopping done.  Many people use our site to select fun Spanish books, dvds, and videos for children because they do not have to worry about searching through stores.  There is something to be said about shopping from the comfort of your own home.  

4. Don’t wait until the last minute

Getting the jump on your Christmas shopping early is a great way to reduce your stress.  When you shop on Christmas Eve you're going to have to fight the crowds, choose from limited merchandise, and wait in long lines. Buy your gifts little by little, beginning in November, and you can avoid last-minute shopping fiascos.

Tips to get your child ready for school

The summer is a great time to be a child again.  Running, playing, relaxing, and no learning or structure makes it so much fun to be a child again.  While it is an exciting time, as September approaches it is time to start getting ready for school.  How can you get your child ready so the transition is easy for both your children and you?  Here are some helpful tips to help your student have a head start and make it an easy transition back into their routine.

1. Get back to a routine

Begin a gradual transition from the carefree days of summer to the rigors of the academic schedule. Send the kids to bed 15 minutes earlier each night, and wake them up a little closer to the usual school start time. Get back into the habit of regular scheduled meals. 

2. Make the first day exciting – get some clothes

Everyone likes to start the first day of school with a brand new outfit.  Walking in confidently is a key to your child’s success.  Let them have a say in the process to engage them.  Having them pick out the outfit prior to the morning of school will build anticipation and make it something they are looking forward to.

3. Get them organized, but make it fun

I often see parents at the store buying all the school supplies by themselves.  This is a great way to get your child involved.  Have them clear out the old suppliers from their workspace and have them come with you to get the new supplies.  Coming home and organizing the new binders, pencils, and other school supplies will help build some excitement behind the upcoming start.

4. Kick-off the year party!

No, really! So many people have pool parties; dances; and other celebrations at the end of the year.  What about celebrating getting back to see friends you haven’t seen all summer.  A great way to get your child and their friends excited about the new school year is to plan a party for the kick-off.  Have them over for pizza at the end of the first week, a great way to make them excited to be back.  

At the end of the day, to our children going back to school seems like such a major disruption after such fun and excitement for two months.  Help make it easier for your child with a few simple tips and make the first day a lot more fun.  Read more parent tips at Tap Peques website.

Looking for Ideas to keep your child busy this summer?

Everyone knows that kids love to be out of school - the freedom, the beautiful weather, no homework, the ability to play all day, and nobody making them sit quietly for hours.  They are never bored right?  We all know that they will not admit it, but they do get bored and this is where as parents we can keep them busy and still enjoying the summer.

Try keeping the kids active this summer with the Olympics.  The Olympics provide a great opportunity for the kids to learn about the world and get motivated to exercise, too.  Ask them to watch some different events - maybe they may find a new sport that interests them.  Swimming, diving, jousting, there are many events that are children may have never seen or really paid attention to.

Some of our kids do go into the summer coming off a challenging year.  If your kids are in Grade 7 or 8 and need help with homework, you can practice over the summer on your math.  Make it a challenge - offer some incentives to improve.  Maybe a special movie night, walk to get some ice cream, or maybe a new song for the Ipod.   Register at ontario.ca/HomeworkHelp
Teachers are available every Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET

For those kids who are in French Immersion, the challenge can be to keep your child's French learning alive over the summer.  Here are some simple ideas:
-watch French children television programming on TFO.
-go to the local library and choose a French book and/or a French Children's DVD; so many awesome titles to choose from.
-explore as parents the Canadian Parents for French website with great resources for you to use with your child. http://cpf.ca/en/resources/for-parents/

Lastly, for those who want a little downtime but somewhere to take your children, find a local 'Storytime'.  This offers kids the opportunity to go out, see other children, and enjoy a story or two.  It also gives Mom or Dad a much needed break, allowing you to sit and relax or interact with other adults.  It is a great opportunity to get out, learn, and enjoy a great book.

Why should your Child Learn a Second Language?

Children are the future of our global society.  The next generation needs to be even further developed, tolerant, and have the ability to communicate with different cultures.  The great news is that as young children they absorb everything around them. In Canada, French has commonly been the choice for a second language.  That is logical when it is one of the two national languages, but exposing your child to Spanish may be important for other reasons.  Spanish is the third most commonly used language on the Internet after English and Mandarin. It is also the second most studied language and second language in international communication, after English, in the world. 

As parents, we certainly want the best for our children, allowing them to reach their potential. Teaching your child another language, even while he is still developing his first language, has some real benefits.

Help with Development

Exposing your child to another language is a great way to help with their development.  General thought is that if they are too young, they will be confused and it will inhibit their ability to learn their primary language.   In reality, learning another language will improve their linguistic abilities.. Children that are learning or have learned a foreign language when they are real young tend to do better in school and on standardized tests. In fact, the earlier you start, the more likely it is that your child will become proficient in that language, being able to speak and understand it like a it is his or her natural language.

Expose your child to new cultures

Another benefit is the exposure to different cultures.  By being exposed to the language they are also being exposed to the culture.  Along with learning a language, your child will certainly benefit from learning about where that language is spoken and the culture of the people. As your child gets older, he or she will have an appreciation of another culture other than their own.   This will provide him or her a broader understanding of other cultures, more tolerance, and potentially increase their curiosity to learn about more cultures.

Teaching your child a new language at a young age will benefit them both mentally and socially.  Helping them learn about different languages and cultures will make your child more well-rounded, improve learning skills, and will help them with their future.