Teaching Spanish or Playing Games?

As promised here are some of the games that I have been playing (or have played) with my kids so they get more exposure to Spanish. They actually like them and are learning without realizing. I have had to use some of these as you know my kids - particularly my boy have been quite resistant to learn Spanish. Somehow, he still thinks he is playing games and not learning Spanish - It works for me!!!

The majority of the games are car games, which we play as we drive to and from everywhere we go/

Name the item: This one worked when they were little (up to 3 years old). I will drive a point at things in the street and say the name of the item in Spanish. They had to repeat  the word. Once they turned 3 years old, they did not find this amusing anymore so I changed to Veo Veo!

Veo Veo: This is the Spanish version of the "I spy" game and goes like this (it has a little song - I wish I can sing it to you):

Me: Veo Veo!!
Kids: Qué ves?
Me: Una cosita
Kids: Y qué cosita és?
Me: Empieza...
Kids: Por la letra?
Me: Then I say the first letter of the name of a thing that I see, like "c" for carro

Whomever guesses the correct word, starts the next Veo Veo and so on!! the kids still love this game.

En la Maleta del carro de la Tia Gladys: This is the latest addition (we started it this summer as it requires a little more vocabulary and memory). The game consists of remembering what is inside Tia Gladys' car trunk. With each turn the person repeats the introductory sentence: En la maleta del carro de la tía Gladys encontré" then all the words previously said by others and adds a new word at the end. The game goes on until somebody forgets the series, that person is then "out" and you keep going until there is only one person standing. This game is soooo good - it keeps your brain working so you do not need to be a child not to be learning Spanish to enjoy it and benefit from it!!

Here is an example:

Person 1: En la maleta del carro de la Tía Gladys encontré una pelota
Person 2: En la maleta del carro de la Tía Gladys encontré una pelota y una flor
Person 3: En la maleta del carro de la Tía Gladys encontré una pelota, una flor y un avión.... and so on!!!

The microphone: This is a game or tool that the teachers at Language Stars use to get the kids to speak. I love it!!! as my daughter is a bit reserved when talking to strangers and particularly in Spanish - for her the microphone gives her permission to speak. It also worked for my son who is super extrovert - so for him it is time to shine!

Basically, the teacher has a toy microphone (the big thick ones you can buy at Toys are us - they amplify your voice but not to loud). She starts by talking at the microphone and asking a question like: My nombre es Rosa, Cuál es tu nombre? then she hands the microphone to a kid, who has to say his/her name, ask the same question and pass it along. It is so simple but it works brilliantly!


I also sing a lot in the car - (not that you want to hear me:) ) but the kids do not mind the sometimes out of tune songs!! I tried to choose fun and active songs that can keep them engage or even better that they can interact with like Maria Moñitos, Dónde estabas tú periquito?, Los maderos de San Juan, etc.

What games do you play?
 
Disclosure: I will receive discounted tuition from Language Stars as compensation for this post. However all facts and opinions expressed in this post are true and my own. Language Stars have not asked me to write about anything in particular, only my true and honest opinion about my experience with their program.  This post have not been edited by a third person.