2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín

ome Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

En español

Donate

Wh Reading to Your Kid in Your
Home Language Will Help Them
ecome etter Reader
By Lydia Breiseth (/author/lydia­breiseth)

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 1/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

As a parent, you may be wondering whether you should be reading to
your children in Spanish or English. This article provides suggestions of
ways that you can help your child develop his or her literacy skills in
your family's native language and explains the research behind the
recommendations.

On this page

• Research Findings

• Creating a Print­Rich Environment in Your Native Language

Note: In this article, Spanish is considered the native language, and English
is considered the second language.

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 2/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

As a parent, you may be wondering whether you should be reading to your
children in Spanish or English. You may be afraid that reading to them in
Spanish will confuse them as they try to learn English, and that it will make it
harder for them to read in English. You may also be concerned that you
shouldn't read to them in English if you don't feel comfortable with your own
English skills.

While it is important to encourage and support your child's efforts to learn
English, research shows that children who are read to in their native
language (such as Spanish) will have an easier time learning to read in their
second language (such as English). The benefits are even greater for children
who learn to read first in their native language. This means that by
developing your child's literacy skills in Spanish, you will be making it easier
for them to learn to speak, read, and write English in the future. This article
provides information about the research done on this topic, and suggestions
of ways that you can help your child develop his or her literacy skills in your
family's native language.

Reearch Finding
De nitions
Academic language: "the language necessary to speak, listen, read, and
write in an academic environment" (Anstrom, 1999).

Cognitive foundation: the development of the brain's ability to process
information

Native language: the first language a person learns to speak

Second language: the second language a person learns to speak

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 3/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

A number of studies have been conducted about the ways in which children
learn to read in a second language most effectively. Some of the results of
those studies include the following findings:

1. Young children who were exposed to age­appropriate books and
literature in their native language developed stronger pre­literacy skills
than children who were only exposed to books in their second language
(Association for Childhood Education International, 2003).
2. Children who learn to read in their native language first will have an
easier time learning to read in their second language than children who
never learned how to read in their first language (Anstrom, 1999).
Children who can read in their native language understand the process
of reading, even if they need to learn new letters, sounds, and words to
attain reading proficiency in a second language. Children who are
learning to read for the first time in their second language have twice as
much work to do because they are learning the process of reading from
the beginning at the same time that they are learning a new language
(Short & Fitzsimmons, 2007).

3. Although children seem to learn new languages very quickly, without a
strong cognitive foundation in their first language, children learning a
second language "will tend to take much longer to acquire cognitive
academic language skills in the second language" (Ramirez et.al, 1991).

4. The first three years of a child's life are critical to brain development,
and increased exposure to a child's native language lays an important
foundation for strong literacy skills when the child is older (Department
of Education, Archived Information). In addition, when a child's brain is
exposed to language at a very young age, the brain develops a life­long
capacity to learn language, including foreign languages (McGill
University, 2002).

5. Infants exposed to spoken language (reading out loud, talking, singing,
and listening to music) show more language proficiency and better
reading skills once they enter school than those who had not heard a lot

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 4/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

of spoken language during their infancy (Center for Early Education and
Development, 2001).

Creating a Print­Rich nvironment in Your
Native Language
Now that you know some of the reasons that it is important to encourage
literacy in your child's native language, how can you get started? Creating a
rich language environment at home in your family's native language will
stimulate your child's cognitive, linguistic, and social development, and will
enforce his/her early literacy skills. You can do this by:

• Reading books in Spanish with your child on a daily basis
• Talking about the stories you have read together

• Playing rhyming games (/article/get­your­child­ready­read#h­say­
rhymes) and singing songs (/article/get­your­child­ready­read#h­
sing­songs) in Spanish together (Example: I'm thinking of an animal
that rhymes with globo: lobo)
• Encouraging your child to write in Spanish

• Keeping Spanish print material in your home such as books, greeting
cards, magazines, and newspapers

• Exposing your child to games, puzzles, and music in Spanish

• Encouraging your child to use Spanish to tell stories
• Expanding your child’s Spanish vocabulary by teaching him/her new
words, pointing out and naming objects, and helping him/her improve
pronunciation

• Visiting the public library regularly to check out books and other
resources

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 5/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

Libraries, bookstores, and community centers in your neighborhood may
offer books in Spanish that you can read with your children. Even if you can't
purchase books to take home, you can make special "reading trips" to these
places to enjoy books with your children. If you can't find any children's
books in Spanish in your community, talk with other parents about ways to
create a collection of books or Spanish­language resources that many
families can enjoy.

So when you see Spanish­language books at your library or bookstore, don't
hesitate to pick them up and take them home — they may be just what you
need to get your child on the road to reading and to becoming a successful
English language learner!

References
Anstrom, Kris. "Native Language Literacy: Is it Just Another Option?"
National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. 1999.Retrieved December 10,
2007, from
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/ECI/newsletters/97fall/early10.html

Association for Childhood Education International. "Native Language Books
Boost Kindergarteners' Literacy Development." Facts in Action, March/April
2003. Retrieved December 10, 2007,
http://factsinaction.org/brief/brapr034.htm
(http://factsinaction.org/brief/brapr034.htm)

Center for Early Education and Development, Irving B. Harris Training Center
for Infant and Toddler Development. Talking Reasonably and Responsibly
About Early Brain Development. 2001. Regents of the University of
Minnesota.

Collier, V. Acquiring a second language for school. National Clearinghouse for
Bilingual Education: Washington, D.C. 1995.
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 6/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

Department of Education. "Implications of Brain Development Research for
Even Start Family Literacy Programs." Archived Information. Retrieved
December 10, 2007,
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/archives/CEP/brainnewsltr.html
(http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/archives/CEP/brainnewsltr.html)

Hancock, D.R.. The Effects of Native Language Books on the Pre­Literacy
Skill Development of Language Minority Kindergarteners. Journal of Research
in Childhood Education, 2002.

McGill University (2002, May 2). "New Language Learning Linked To Early
Language Experience." ScienceDaily. Retrieved 12/10/07,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/05/020502072204.htm
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/05/020502072204.htm

Ramirez, J. D. (1991). Executive summary to the final report: Longitudinal
study of structured English immersion strategy, early­exit and late­exit
transitional bilingual education programs for language­minority children.
Aguirre International: San Mateo, CA.
http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu/miscpubs/ramirez/longitudinal.htm

Short, D., & Fitzsimmons, S. (2007). Double the work: Challenges and
solutions to acquiring language and academic literacy for adolescent English
language learners – A report to Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Washington, DC: Alliance for Excellent Education.

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. Brain Quiz
Answers. Retrieved December 10, 2007,
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=ter_key_brain_quiz_answers
(http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=ter_key_brain_quiz_answers)

Reprints
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 7/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

You are welcome to print copies or republish materials for non­commercial
use as long as credit is given to Colorín Colorado and the author(s). For
commercial use, please contact info@colorincolorado.org.

More by this author
15 Tips for Talking with Children About School Violence (/article/15­
tips­talking­children­about­school­violence)
20 Strategies for School Leaders (/article/20­strategies­school­
leaders)
Academic Language and ELLs: What Teachers Need to Know
(/article/academic­language­and­ells­what­teachers­need­
know)
Addressing ELLs’ Language Learning and Special Education Needs:
Questions and Considerations (/article/addressing­ells­language­
learning­and­special­education­needs­questions­and­
considerations)
Communicating Important Information with ELL Families: Strategies for
Success (/article/communicating­important­information­ell­
families­strategies­success)
Connecting with ELL Families: Strategies for Success
(/article/connecting­ell­families­strategies­success)
Creating a Plan of Action for ELL Family Engagement
(/article/creating­plan­action­ell­family­engagement)
Encouraging and Sustaining ELL Parent Engagement
(/article/encouraging­and­sustaining­ell­parent­engagement)
Engaging ELL Families Through Community Partnerships
(/article/engaging­ell­families­through­community­partnerships)

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 8/9
2/23/2019 Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers | Colorín Colorado

Engaging ELL Parents as Leaders (/article/engaging­ell­parents­
leaders)
Fifteen Tips for Helping ELLs Through Their First Winter
(/article/fifteen­tips­helping­ells­through­their­first­winter)
Final Thoughts (/article/final­thoughts)
Getting to Know Your ELLs: Six Steps for Success (/article/getting­
know­your­ells­six­steps­success)
How to Support Refugee Students in the ELL Classroom (/article/how­
support­refugee­students­ell­classroom)
Introduction: Strategies for Engaging ELL Families
(/article/introduction­strategies­engaging­ell­families)
Make History Come Alive with Books! (/article/make­history­come­
alive­books)
Reading Comprehension Strategies for English Language Learners
(/article/reading­comprehension­strategies­english­language­
learners)
Reflection Questions for Teachers and Students: Looking Back at Our
Year (/article/reflection­questions­teachers­and­students­
looking­back­our­year)
Taking a Museum Tour in Spanish: What It Feels Like to Be a Language
Learner (/article/taking­museum­tour­spanish­what­it­feels­be­
language­learner)
What You Need to Know About ELLs: Fast Facts (/article/what­you­
need­know­about­ells­fast­facts)
Winter Vacation: 10 Reading Ideas for Families (/article/winter­
vacation­10­reading­ideas­parents)
You Are Already a Leader: Identifying Your Leadership Skills on Behalf of
ELLs (/article/you­are­already­leader­identifying­your­
leadership­skills­behalf­ells)

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-reading-your-kids-your-home-language-will-help-them-become-better-readers 9/9