I would love your input, my son goes to a home daycare......?

Question

where the two main caretakers only speak spanish. I knew this beforehand and thought it would be nice for him to learn both languages. But mainly I love the care and how they treat my son!! They are more than I could ask for, but my question is do you think he will talk mainly spanish...Now that I'm thinking about it, im a little skeptical, because he is there for 40 hours a week. M-F 7am-4:15

And then he usually goes to bed around 8-9pm. SO that's 4 hours of english with me a weekday. The children there speak both spanish and english. I love that he will learn spanish, I just want him to learn english as well..I do not know much spanish lol

So what do you think?

He is only 5 months, so there is time before this would become an issue (if it would).

Also, quick question if you dont mind answering....Is it okay for my son to be starting to crawl now (he is getting on his hands and knees and rocking..and trying to move) BUT he does not sit yet, should I be worried or is this fine?

Thank you so much, I know this question may seem strange lol

Answer 1

I really don't think he's going to be fluent in Spanish only. As a matter of fact, I think he will learn to discriminate the language (he'll know when someone is talking to him in spanish or english). Now that I think about it. You mentioned that the children at the daycare also speak English which means that he's getting exposed to that language as well.

I personally wouldn't worry about it. Your son will speak both languages.

Answer 2

I would never send my baby to a home daycare and I don't trust anyone who speaks Spanish even though I am part Mexican myself.

Answer 3

well as for the language thing I would think that it could be a possibility that he would be speaking mostly spanish if he were about 12-14 months, and around it that long. but the crawling thing at five months is quite advanced i wouldnt expect it.-

Answer 4

About the daycare thing. I am mexican myself and speak english and spanish. I know that it will not affect his english at all. My parents only spoke spanish when i was born and then went to school when it was time. learned english there so i was completely fine. I think its great for you to put your son in a spanish speaking environment if he dose learn another language in the long run its going to definitely help him out. He will not have a problem with speaking English that's nothing to worry about.

About the crawling thing if your son starts to crawl now that's great even if he cant sit down at the moment. I don't know if you have hear d but some kids learn how to run before they learn how to walk a true fact. You have nothing to worry about. :)

*Mother of 2 year old and 33 weeks pregnant :)

I forgot to metion my 2 year old i only speak spanish to her and so dose her dad i prefer her to leanr spanish because english she WILL learn it in school. I talk to her now in english and still understands its awsome and amazing how smart hey are.

Answer 5

well it depends how the caretakers are taking care of him... when they talk with him are they talking english or spanish? i think since you are english, and you dont know spanish, english should be the primary language for him, what her hears and speaks. Then he can learn spanish as a second language. Talk to the caretakers and just explain to them that you would appreciate them speaking english to him, but incorperate spanish a bit when learning....like say ball, then repeat it in spanish aswell, then he is learning both.. Maybe you should take a spanish class aswell so he has it at home with you and you can communicate in both together

it wouldnt be fair to you to have your son speaking to you in spanish, trying to tell you something he wants, and you not understanding him.

as for the crawling, your son is fine. some babies learn to crawl before others, and there are lots that crawl around 5/6 months.

Answer 6

your baby will learn to speak both,being his mum he will probably pick up English first as you are his primary caregiver.Don't worry he will not get confused.My son has Turkish grandparents who only speak Turkish at home ,yet he learnt English befrore picking up some of their language.

Answer 7

for him to grow up bi lingual would be fantastic. i know a child who spends her days in child care speaking english and goes home to her parents who speak english and german. this little girl speaks fluent english and german and she is four. what a great asset for her to have in the future. i can see your son being the same. dont discourage it if it happens. as for the crawling i think that being up on his knees doesnt mean he is about to crawl but he may in a few months and if that happens it doesnt matter, some kids walk at 10 months !  

Answer 8

My friend's son went to a daycare like yours where they didn't speak much english. She ended up moving and he went to another daycare where they were all English, and they noticed he was quite behind but he showed so much more improvement at the new place.    

Answer 9

no dont be worried that your child is spending such a great time around spanish people, learning languages is a terrific thing.in my forst four years of life i learnt 3 different languages completely fluent and i still retain 2 of them perfectly. the first 6 years of a childs life are the most important in terms of development of the brain, learning, functioning and reasoning. kids at this age are like sponges they just collect and soak in a lot of information and knowledge. languages are very important for all ages, and a skill they will continue to use fo the rest of their lives. i cant answer the crawling part because i dont have any children yet but i can say that i started to walk at 10 months, my younger brother had taken much longer though so dont worry. but as a baby make sure you keep their back straight and hold their head up until they have the strength to do it themselves. 5 months is still very young, here is a lot more learning to be done- for the both of you.

P.S- start teaching your children to read and write early, arithmetic aswell, its amazing the difference it will make later. if you start early they will usually love reading and school in later years.

Best of luck take care

Answer 10

Personally I think that what your doing is great and I understand the level of care is fantastic however you don't want your son to be singled out when he leaves daycare and goes to an English speaking school.

Its too hard to tell at this stage and unfortunately you may have to wait and see if it does become and issue before acting upon it.

You mentioned other children in the same care speak both?

So what makes your son different?

No disrespect or anything I know bills are bills but how do you get by each day with your child being away from you for most of the week or sleeping when your around???

Its none of my business but your son is young if I were you I would stop daycare all together and focus on you and him for the next four years... there is plenty of time to learn languages and go to school don't compromise your relationship of your child for the sake of a pay check.

Answer 11

My daughter was with my mother in law for 1 year and she only spoke Hebrew, I asked her to speak spanish and french to her as much as she could, I spoke english to her, My daughter is now in day care nusary as Mum had to go back to Isreal, when I speak english to her she responds and also when I speak spanish she understands both words in english and spanish, I would put my daugher there as it great to learn a language, other children who do speak english there will also help her with english.

My daughter is 15mths  old and is only starting to try and craw, she can walk very well with a walker, i am not worried as it maybe that she will miss crawling out completely, all children are different just try and encourage them a bit more

Answer 12

Don't listen to people who tell you to take care of your kids and not work. I don't understand why others don't understand that some people have to work. It's a fact in life, and we are all not rich and can't stay home all the time.

Anyway....I would be a little concerned because of the amount of time he is spending there. It is great that you can trust them and they take care of your baby and ultimately, that is what matters (I also use an in-home daycare that I love), but you might want to think about the spanish vs. english thing. It's great for kids to learn, but it could be confusing as a baby listening and trying to learn to talk (a little later down the road mostly).

Answer 13

Are you bilingual as well?

My only concern would be the language barrier between you and the caretakers. Communication is important in this situation. My main concern is that you are unable to express your and your son's feelings, needs, and concerns, to them clearly.

I would also be slightly concerned that he would be more exposed to the Spanish language opposed to English which may lead to miscommunication between you and your son.