Teaching Spanish to Your Kids as a Heritage Speaker

By Jorge Navarro

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June 16, 2025

Contents

Introduction

Why Teach Your Kids Spanish?

Understanding Your Role as a Heritage Speaker

How Heritage Spanish Speakers Can Teach Their Kids Spanish

Bridging Conversational and Formal Spanish

Fun Ways to Teach Kids Spanish

Best Practices for Bilingual Parenting

Helpful Resources for Heritage Parents

Common Challenges and How to Handle Them

Final Thoughts

Introduction

As a heritage Spanish speaker, you have a special gift, a strong connection to your culture and language. Teaching Spanish to your kids is one of the most powerful ways to pass on that gift.

This blog is here to support you, whether you speak Spanish well or mainly at home. It will guide you as a bilingual parent and show you how to teach Spanish to your kids daily. We’ll explore tips, tools, and real-life ideas for raising bilingual kids confidently and naturally.

Why Teach Your Kids Spanish?

If you speak Spanish at home or grew up with Spanish as your first language, you have something meaningful to pass on. Teaching your kids Spanish as a native speaker is more than just language. It’s about family, identity, and pride.

Here are a few big reasons why heritage parents teaching Spanish to their children matters:

Family bonds: Sharing your language brings you closer to your children.
Cultural pride: Kids who learn Spanish also connect with your traditions and values.
Cognitive skills: Studies show bilingual children often have stronger memory, focus, and problem-solving skills.
More opportunities: Spanish is spoken by hundreds of millions of people. It’s a major asset in school, travel, and future jobs.

So whether you’re fluent or semi-fluent, you can still give your child the gift of Spanish right from home.

Understanding Your Role as a Heritage Speaker

A heritage speaker is someone who learned Spanish at home. They grew up in a place where another language, like English, is the main one. You likely learned Spanish at home but went to school in English.

That means you’re in a unique position to pass Spanish to your children naturally. You know the cultural side of the language how it sounds in family jokes, music, or traditions. That’s something no textbook can teach.

But as a bilingual parent, it’s common to feel unsure. Maybe you worry your Spanish isn’t “good enough,” or you don’t know how to explain grammar. That’s okay. What matters most is consistency, love, and daily language exposure.

How Heritage Spanish Speakers Can Teach Their Kids Spanish

Let’s talk about how to actually make this work at home. You don’t need to be a teacher. You just need to be intentional and make Spanish part of everyday life.

Make Spanish the Language at Home

Start by deciding how Spanish will be used at home. Some families use the “one-parent, one-language” method, one speaks only Spanish, the other only English. Others choose to speak only Spanish at home.

No method is perfect. Choose what works best for your family. The goal is simple: give your child regular language at home that feels natural.

Talk, Talk, Talk

Even if your child answers in English, keep speaking to them in Spanish. Teaching Spanish to your kids as a bilingual parent takes time and patience. The more they hear, the more they learn.

Talk about:

Food while cooking
Emotions while playing
Clothes while getting dressed
Nature during walks

Everyday moments are teaching moments.

Read Together in Spanish

Start with picture books. Read the same book in both languages. Kids love repetition, and it helps them connect meaning to words.

Later, try:

Short stories
Comics
Spanish folktales
Children’s magazines

Even second-generation kids can fall in love with reading in Spanish if it’s fun and age-appropriate.

Bridging Conversational and Formal Spanish

Many heritage speakers use informal Spanish. It works well for chatting with family. However, it may not be ideal for writing or formal situations.

To help your kids learn both types of Spanish:

Introduce books, news articles, or videos that use formal language.
Play spelling games, use flashcards, or create short writing exercises.
Encourage them to write birthday cards, emails, or short stories in Spanish.

Learning how to switch between casual and formal Spanish helps your child become a well-rounded bilingual speaker.

Fun Ways to Teach Kids Spanish

Keeping Spanish fun is the key to making it stick. Here are some simple ideas for teaching Spanish to kids that also build memories.

Music & Songs

Kids learn fast through music. Play Spanish lullabies, children’s songs, or dance music. Singing teaches rhythm, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

TV & Cartoons

Let your kids watch Spanish-language cartoons or family shows. Use subtitles when needed. Watching familiar content in Spanish helps them learn without pressure.

Games & Apps

Use games to make learning exciting. Try:

Memory match with Spanish words
Bingo with animals or food
Spanish learning apps like Duolingo Kids or Gus on the Go

Travel or Cultural Events

If possible, visit Spanish-speaking countries or attend cultural festivals. These experiences give your child a full language and cultural immersion.

Best Practices for Bilingual Parenting

Being a bilingual parent means staying consistent even when it’s hard. Here’s what helps:

Stick to a Routine

Children learn best when there’s structure. Pick specific times of the day or week to speak Spanish. For example:

Speak only Spanish during dinner or bedtime routines.
Set a "Spanish Saturday" where the whole family uses only Spanish.
Use Spanish while doing regular tasks, like cooking or cleaning.

By making Spanish a natural part of daily routines, your child learns it without pressure and it becomes just another normal part of life.

Create a Support System

You don’t have to do this alone. Connect with other families raising bilingual children. This gives your child the chance to see other kids using Spanish too, which can make them feel more comfortable and motivated.

Ways to build your support network:

Join local or online groups for heritage Spanish families.
Attend parenting workshops focused on bilingual education.
Find a Spanish-speaking babysitter or caregiver.

Having a support system also gives you emotional encouragement, resources, and people to share your experiences with.

Encourage Spanish-Speaking Playdates or Community Events

Children are more likely to use Spanish when they hear it from other kids their age. Try setting up playdates with other Spanish-speaking families. These informal gatherings give kids a chance to practice Spanish in fun, low-pressure situations.

You can also:

Attend cultural festivals or Spanish-language storytime events.
Enroll your child in Spanish-language summer camps, dance classes, or art programs.
Get involved in local community centers that offer events in Spanish.

The more your child sees Spanish used outside the home, the more they will value it as a useful skill.

Share Your Own Story

As a heritage speaker, your story is powerful. Talk to your kids about how you learned Spanish, what it means to your family, and why you want to pass it on. Sharing your personal experience helps your children see that learning Spanish is not just a job. It is part of who they are.

Examples of what you can share:

Stories about your childhood or family traditions.
How speaking Spanish helped you in school, travel, or work.
Funny or emotional moments that show the beauty of being bilingual.
Your child may feel more connected to the language if they see its personal and emotional value in the family.

Helpful Resources for Heritage Parents

You don’t have to do this alone. There are many tools to help heritage speakers teaching children Spanish.

Courses and Classes

Enroll your child in Spanish classes for native speakers or heritage Spanish programs. These are designed for kids who already understand Spanish and need help with grammar, writing, or formal usage.

Online Platforms

Websites like Comligo offer:

Interactive lessons for kids
Bilingual storytime sessions
Parent support groups
Culture-based content

These resources support both your teaching and your child’s learning.

Common Challenges and How to Handle Them

Not Enough Time?

You don’t need hours every day. Just add Spanish to small moments:

Talk during meals
Listen to music in the car
Play word games before bed

Even 10–15 minutes a day makes a difference.

Your Child Won’t Speak Spanish?

Don’t panic. Many second-generation kids go through phases where they understand but don’t respond in Spanish. Keep using it anyway.

To encourage speaking:

Ask fun questions in Spanish
Offer small rewards for Spanish phrases
Turn it into a game: “Only Spanish for 5 minutes!”

You Don’t Feel Like a Good Teacher?

You don’t need to be perfect. Your love and effort matter most. If you're unsure about grammar or vocabulary, learn together! Let your kids see that language learning is a lifelong journey.

Final Thoughts

As a heritage Spanish speaker, you’re in the perfect position to raise bilingual children. You already have the culture, the sounds, the stories and the heart.

You don’t need perfect Spanish to be a great teacher. What matters is that you show up, make it fun, and stay consistent. Use the resources around you, like online tools, heritage programs, or Spanish books for kids.

This isn’t just about words, it’s about building a strong foundation with basic Spanish vocabulary and phrases and giving your child the best chance to succeed. It’s about building connection, pride, and future opportunities for your family.

So yes, teach kids Spanish. Pass down your heritage. Help your children feel proud of where they come from and confident in where they’re going. To learn more about how you can create a positive and effective language learning environment, check out our guide on supporting your child’s Spanish learning at home.

Jorge Navarro

Academic Team

Jorge Navarro is a Spanish teacher and Portuguese–Spanish translator with over a decade of experience working with learners of all ages. Originally from Cartagena, Colombia, he brings the warmth of the Caribbean to every class. Jorge is passionate about language, culture, music, and creating joyful, communicative learning experiences.