According to a 2013 Pew Research Report, Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in the U.S. Seventy-five percent of Hispanics in the U.S. speak Spanish, yet many are not raising bilingual children, and the number of Spanish speakers is actually expected to decline in the coming years. Phillip M. Carter, Florida International University assistant professor of linguistics sums it up: “As a linguist, the big story is that Spanish is being lost at the same time that new immigration continues to make the language a viable, visible and important language in the U.S.”
As second, third and fourth generation Hispanics become more established in the U.S., the use of Spanish and Spanish phrases declines. Yet the ability to speak multiple languages is a highly desirable skill and one we should encourage in our children. Raising bilingual children is easier than you might imagine and there’s no time like the present to begin the process.
1. Start Young
Children’s brains can pick up languages much more easily than adult brains. Start the bilingual process at home by introducing Spanish vocabulary early on in the game.
Read Related: 15 Ways to Nurture Your Kids’ Spanish During the Summer
