Bilingual toys and cartoons

@mememama (3076)
United States
April 12, 2007 5:57pm CST
My son has a few toys that "speak" spanish and english. His old exersaucer spoke english, spanish, and french. Every once in a great while, he catches an episode of Go Diego or Dora the Explorer so I can take a shower. My husband really doesn't care for all of this, but perhaps this is because he doesn't speak spanish. I don't mind at all, I can understand what he's hearing and don't thik twice about it. How about you? Do you mind toys and shows being bilingual in America? Does your child prefer them?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Myrrdin (3599)
• Canada
13 Apr 07
Why should your husband object? Exposing your child to other languages early increases the chances that they will be able to pick up languages easier later in life, and being bilingual can only help, so where is the problem? My four year old can count to 10, say hello, and many other things in three languages (english spanish and french).
2 people like this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I think he feels kind of stupid since he doesn't know what they are saying. He's so stubborn, but I'm always translating spanish to him as it is, someday he might pick it up!
1 person likes this
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
14 Apr 07
My little one LOVES Diego. He likes Dora, too. And there's a Disney show (Handy Manny, I think?) that he watches occasionally where the main characters are bilingual. I really don't see any problem at all with him learning Spanish, too. My husband doesn't know Spanish at all. I just know a little. I would love for my son to learn it, though. When he was little, he had one of those play gyms that counted to ten and said hello and good bye in 5 different languages I think. Of course he was too little to talk then. Now he's talking pretty well. He repeats a few Spanish words, but mostly just English. It is sometimes confusing when he says something in Spanish, though. Especially if we aren't watching the show right when he says it.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Apr 07
I think the toys and shows are great, personally. I love Dora and Diego, and remember when Diego was first introduced to the show. We've been learning about Spanish for as long as I can remember, for they teach it on Sesame Street, too. Maria has always been on there, at least as long as I've been watching it, and I'm 28. I personally want my kids to have the opportunity to learn something new, and have the chance that many didn't when I was younger. I know how to speak German, English, and Spanish, and some American Sign Language. My kids have more opportunities for learning thins than I did, and I'm going to take every advantage of that.
@gabesmom (1246)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I like bilingual toys and my son likes them, too. He's fond of Diego. I also have my son watch Spanish shows on TV. He's 15 months and at a stage where he copies various sounds and say a few words. I think it's good to expose him to different languages now cause he picks up quickly. My husband and I are both trilingual, so I don't think it would be difficult for my son to learn a few languages. Knowing different languages may come in handy for him in the future.
1 person likes this
@nica269 (1395)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I don't mind, but that's probably because we are a bilingual family. I don't see any harm in 'teaching' or at least exposing them to another language. I think all it i'll do is help them in the future - if that's what you, and your dh choose to do.