Supporting Spanish at Home: Resources for Families

If you are looking for ways to support your child's Spanish-language skills, there are lots of things you can do — whether or not you speak Spanish yourself! This article includes tips for families who are learning Spanish, reconnecting with Spanish, and teaching their children Spanish. Educators can also share these resources with families.

^{Image: "Un picnic con Clara" (Plaza Sésamo)}

Books

One way to support Spanish at home is through books. Your public library or school library may have a section of Spanish books available for you to check out and read together, and your child's teachers may have recommendations as well. You may also be able to find books that connect to your child's interests.

There are different kinds of books in Spanish for all ages, including the following:

• Bilingual books in English and Spanish: Both the English and Spanish versions of the text appear in one book, often side by side (e.g., Galápagos Girl / Galapagueña)
• Books available in separate English and Spanish editions: A Spanish-language edition will only include Spanish text (e.g., Dolphins: National Geographic Kids / Los delfines: National Geographic Kids)
• English-language books that feature Spanish vocabulary: These books are written predominantly in English, and Spanish words are sprinkled throughout (e.g., Isabel and Her Colores Go to School)

You can find lots of titles in the Colorín Colorado Book Finder, as well as in our related booklists:

Board Books / Picture Books

• Bilingual Board Books: Spanish
• Bilingual Picture Books in English and Spanish: Hispanic Heritage
• Bilingual Picture Books: Stories Featuring Spanish Vocabulary Words
• My Family / Mi Familia Series
• Booklists in Spanish for Kids

Bilingual Science Books

• Animals: Bilingual Books for Kids
• Earth Science: Bilingual Books for Kids
• Insects: Bilingual Books for Kids
• Oceans: Bilingual Books for Kids
• Plants: Bilingual Books for Kids
• Reptiles, Amphibians, and Dinosaurs: Bilingual Books for Kids

Books for Middle Grades

• Bilingual Books for Middle Grades: Spanish

Notes:

• Your local library may also have a bilingual or Spanish-language storytime or other activities.

Digital books & audiobooks

You can start by looking at your local public library for digital and audiobook titles, as well as in online collections on sites such as Sesame Street and Unite for Literacy. You can also see if your child's school has access to online book collections or reading websites that provide Spanish-language texts, like Reading A to Z.

Another option is Vox books, which may be available in your library. These are books that come with an audio recording installed, and Vox has a collection of titles available in Spanish (including some bilingual titles).

Puzzles and Games

There are many kinds of Spanish-language puzzles and games out there, including:

• Word search and crossword books
• Activity and coloring books
• Flash cards and trivia cards
• Boards games

You may be able to find these activities in bookstores. And if you have any travel planned to a Spanish-speaking country, you may be able find other options and Spanish-language children's books in bookstores.

There are also many Spanish printable worksheets and puzzles online. And remember — you don't have to have a game in Spanish to play it in Spanish! For example, here is a list of questions for playing "Guess Who?" in Spanish.

Magazines

For pre-school and early elementary children, you might enjoy subscribing to Highlights High Five Bilingüe Magazine, a fully bilingual edition of the popular High Five magazine. If your child is in a dual-language program, this could also be a great resource for the classroom!

Multimedia

There are all kinds of children's multimedia resources available in Spanish. These include:

• Music: You can find great Spanish-language music for children by artists such as 123 Andrés, who perform live all over the country, have a PBS Kids podcast, and have a popular YouTube channel. Putumayo is another great source for international music.
• TV and Movies: Many children's shows are available in Spanish-language editions. You may be also to change settings in your audio options to watch favorite shows and movies in Spanish. Sometimes a subscription is needed to access these programs (such as the PBS Kids channel on Amazon Prime, which features several PBS shows in Spanish).
• Online Games and Videos: There are many Spanish-language games and videos for kids online as well, including through PBS Kids, Sesame Street, Peep and the Big Wide World, and NASA. The early learning website ABC Mouse also continues to add numerous activities in Spanish, although there is not a Spanish-language version of the site.
• Apps: You will also be able to find apps that support language learning and games for kids in Spanish.

Finally, you can find more great ideas through Common Sense Media Latino. As with any online or digital content, preview what you share with your children first to see that it's appropriate.

Your Community

There is another important resource that can support your child's Spanish skills -- your community!

• Give your child opportunities to interact with Spanish-speaking family, friends, and neighbors.
• If your family speaks Spanish at home, continue speaking it with your children. This is a message that many families don't hear very often, but it's an important one. Continuing to speak Spanish with your child gives them the opportunity to be bilingual, maintain close ties with family, and maintain that part of their identity. In addition, it gives students a strong foundation for literacy and learning to read both in Spanish and English.
• Remember that it's never too late to start, for you or your child. For example, Dr. Veronica Benavides did not speak Spanish growing up, but learned Spanish as an adult and is raising her son in Spanish. She also deepened her relationship with her grandmother after learning Spanish as an adult.
• If your family speaks Spanish and your child is resistant to speaking Spanish, continue using Spanish in conversation, explaining that this is an important part of how your family communicates. Give it time — but in the meantime, keep your child connected with family members so that the foundation for language and culture remains strong.

In addition, share positive messages about learning new languages and the benefits of being bilingual and multilingual. These benefits include:

• Being able to communicate with family and friends
• Travel
• Education and job opportunities
• Benefits for brain health

Video: Being Bilingual Is a Superpower!

This animated video is available in 8 languages, including Spanish. A related tip sheet for families and outreach guide for educators is also available. For additional multilingual videos, see our related series on Home Literacy and Partnering with Indigenous Families.

Related Resources

• Benefits of Multilingualism (Office of English Language Acquisition, U.S. Department of Education, also available in other languages)
• The Powerful Gift of Bilingualism/Multilingualism in English (Paid Download from Valentina Gonzalez, also in Spanish)

Concluding Thoughts

There are so many great — and fun! — ways to support Spanish at home and in your community. Be sure to pass the resources you find on to others and enjoy the journey along the way!