Add a Little Greek into Your Day…
…it’s Easier Than You Think!
One common sentiment I hear from parents who don’t speak Greek fluently is that they’re worried they’re not “good enough” to teach it to their kids. And I totally get it, because sometimes I feel that way too!
Like many of the Greek Americans we know, I went to Greek school growing up, but we didn’t speak a ton of Greek inside the home. And I think this experience has left many of us feeling a bit too in-between.
Even though we have the desire to pass on such a key part of our culture and identity to our kids, this in-between feeling can lead to the fear that we might “mess up” when trying to help our kids learn. And that fear of messing up can lead parents to feel like they need to speak a second language perfectly in order to share it with their kids, but the truth is that we don’t!
Just like everything with parenting, you don’t need to have all the answers at once.
It’s ok to share what you know and find ways to supplement your child’s (and your own) learning along the way!
If you only speak a little Greek, pass on those phrases. If you’re fully fluent, that’s amazing! If you’re somewhere in-between, then find ways to incorporate language learning in a way that makes sense for you and your family.
Even incorporating small daily habits can make a big difference! Here are a few easy ones to try:
Read a short book in Greek together: Adding a couple books written in Greek to your library is a great way to start! (We’re obviously biased and would recommend the My Little Greek Book Series😉).
Label items around the house: If you have older kids that know how to read, add some post-its to objects like the door or the fridge to help teach them vocab words. And if they don’t read Greek yet? No problem! Use phonetics to help them get started until they get a handle on the Greek alphabet!
Listen to Greek songs: Using music to incorporate play based language learning is a fun and easy habit to add to your routine. Make it fun by dancing or singing along in the car.
Time for a Sing-Along!
If you’re a parent or grandparent, chances are you know The Wiggles. But did you know that Lucia (the Blue Wiggle) has “Learning Greek with Lucia” playlists on YouTube and Spotify?
We love this playlist for its mix of Greek/English and all-Greek songs. There’s some translated Wiggles’ classics, some classic Greek educational songs, and some new ones that incorporate all the silly energy you expect from the Wiggles. (One of our family’s favorites is “Tarama-Tarama” )
Take some time in your week to check it out, sing along together, and watch your little one start to pick up some new words!
Find What Works for You!
Just like with everything else, it’s important to figure out what process and what level works best for your own family. It might be hard, but try not to add pressure to yourself by comparing your family to other friends or families who may be more fluent. Their families are learning in a way that fits their needs just like yours is! Just remember: teaching your little ones a second (or even third!) language doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Consistency over perfection wins every time!