With more than 400 million Spanish speakers worldwide, and over 33 million active Spanish speakers in the United States, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. From cognitive and social development, to increased career opportunities and more, there are many life-changing reasons why you should teach your child Spanish. In today’s blog, we are going to cover five of these reasons.

If you’re ready to teach your child spanish, the award-winning Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids program is the best place to start. Whether you are working in a traditional classroom setting, teaching online, or homeschooling your child, there is a version of this Spanish language learning program that has been tailored to your needs. Read on to learn five reasons why you should teach your child Spanish, shop the products and programs from Risas y Sonrisas, or contact us today to speak with a curriculum specialist. 

One of the greatest myths surrounding teaching children Spanish is that it can confuse or overwhelm them while they are still learning their first language. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Learning a second language at an early age greatly benefits your child’s linguistic development, and gives them a head start over children who only learn one language. This is especially true for young children under the age of five, who use the same part of their brain to acquire Spanish as they did to learn their native tongue. Additionally, as both the English and Spanish language share their linguistic roots in Latin, studying Spanish can help children learn English vocabulary, and give them a glimpse into how languages evolve.

There’s no question that learning a second language has a positive impact on the cognitive development of children. Learning Spanish helps children improve their concentration, memory, and listening skills, boosts problem solving, and encourages them to think critically in all aspects of their life. As kids grow, these abilities also translate to mental flexibility and creativity, which helps them navigate the novel challenges of their increasingly complex worlds. 

The impact it has on the social development of children is one of the greatest reasons to teach your child Spanish. Early exposure to other languages helps kids form and display positive attitudes towards the people and cultures associated with those languages. This increased curiosity and empathy can assist children as they build their earliest social relationships, while encouraging them to approach issues from different angles. As adults, we know that the ability to understand the perspectives of others is invaluable in our personal and professional lives — teaching your child Spanish can set them on the right track. 

Still wondering why you should teach your child Spanish? Learning Spanish doesn’t just boost your child’s linguistic, cognitive, and social development — it sets them up for success in the future, too! 

 As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are more than 400 million Spanish speakers worldwide. This qualifies Spanish as the second most spoken language in the world — and yes, that’s more speakers than the English language! Internationally, knowing Spanish drastically increases your career opportunities; and as the second most popular language in the United States, being bilingual sets your resume apart from millions of other jobseekers. 

Teaching your child Spanish opens up a world of exciting travel opportunities for them. If they are traveling to one of the 21 countries where Spanish is the official language — or one of the many regions where Spanish is a significant minority language — they will have a safer and more rewarding experience. When traveling, proficiency in a country’s native language allows for a more immersive experience. If you teach your child Spanish, they will be able to interact with locals and participate in rich cultural activities that they wouldn’t be able to experience otherwise. If you want to give your kid a head start, order one of the immersive Spanish language learning programs from Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids!

Don’t wait to teach your child Spanish. Risas y Sonrisas offers three versions of our award-winning Spanish for Kids program. Whether you are teaching in a traditional classroom setting, conducting all of your lessons online, or homeschooling your child, we have a spanish language learning program that can fit your needs. Learn more about Spanish for Kids, shop our products, or contact us today to speak with a knowledgeable member of our team.