When she was a baby I used to only speak spanish to her. She understood both english and spanish, since her father only speaks english. However, noone else spoke spanish to her, so she learned more english than spanish and at some point would only speak english.
Since she was going to daycare with english speaking kids, she did not lean any spanish there either. The problem got worse when she started preschool, to the point that I almost gave up and just spoke english to her, trying to introduce spanish words whenever I could.

Now she's about to go to kindergarten and she refuses to speak spanish. She doesn't even want to hear me speak spanish. I know she understands most of what I say to her, because when push comes to shove, she does as she is told even in spanish.

My husband never bothered to learn spanish. I work all day and when I get home I don't want to spend the couple of hours I have left with her fighting because she doesn't want to even listen to me speak my first language.

I want her to learn, It is something very important to me. Most of my family do not speak english and I want my kids to be able to talk to their grandmother and cousins.

I'm trying to introduce spanish to my toddler as well. She at least listens and is learning both languages, just like my older one used to.


Any ideas?

I think the reason your daughter is so against learning Spanish is because at this age in a childs development, they dont want to be different. She wants to fit in, and by speaking spanish (which the others kids do not), she most likely feels like it will make her different than everyone else. In a few years, as she gets older and her peers start to all become different and individual's, she will most likely be more excepting of speaking Spanish. If I was you, i would be patient and continue speaking spanish with her (so she does not forget the language), but do not speak it all the time and force it upon her. When being forced into a situation, especially by there parents, a child will most likely rebel. Make it clear to your daughter that you want her to speak Spanish, but let her feel as though she has the choice. in the end, patience will most likely pay off.
Hope this helps!
-Sabrina

I read in a book that in order to maintain her vocabulary, I'd have to have at least 4 hours of (in my case) French language input each day. Knowing that there was NO WAY I could talk for that long I sought out support in the form of children's music which is what I exclusively play in the car while driving her to school, etc. AND in French language cartoons widely available on You Tube. This makes it a bit easier because I watch with her and use examples from the shows when I speak to her. I have made peace with her only speaking to me in French when there's no one else around (no one else in my family speaks French and it is not my native language). This way, she realizes that she doesn't really have a choice! Finally, her school has a language program and that has been an affirmation because she is proud to say "I speak many languages." The more positivity you can surround her with about being multilingual, the better!

My advice to you is to stay strong, be patient and know that by sticking to your native language you are offering an amazing, invaluable gift to your children who will be so enriched through your hard work!! It is so much harder than "giving in" to English, but most things that are worthwhile are exceedingly hard to do! :) I feel your pain! Be encouraged!

When wanting to teach your child a second language from my experience you have to start early and be deliberate about it. Think it through. My husband is a native Spanish speaker and I know some Spanish but am not fluent. We through this through from the beginning and were deliberate about it. This helped us not have any issues thus far.

My husband speaks to her in 100% Spanish and I speak what Spanish I do know to her. Also, the first daycare she ever went to was bilingual - so she was learning Spanish there. Also, there's a Saturday class that she'll start in another year from 9am-Noon that's 100% Spanish. We are looking for some fund activities with her where the kids speak Spanish so that she can get more practice speaking socially with kids her own age.

You keep saying 'the problem got worse' and you knew there was a 'problem' but it seems like you didn't address it. If her speaking was an issue, why wasn't a bilingual day care considered seriously, or finding her a spanish speaking play group, or introduce spanish language TV and so on. That's another thing, we got the Spanish channels on Verizon and our daughter watches Plaza Sesamo (Spanish Sesame street) and other Spanish cartoons. When our daughter uses Spanish words we give her a lot of praise.

For your child, you can't force her to speak it, but you can still speak it to her even if she doesn't want to hear it. You can 'force' her to speak it to you by only responding back to her if she uses Spanish. But again, the tone you've already set will be hard to break. Learning a language should be naturally introduced and always included in the childs daily routine like with Spanish TV, daycare, daily interactions, Spanish toys and books.

Good luck!