Child development experts have found that children absorb second languages ​​more naturally than adults, especially if they are exposed to different facets of their culture at an early age. If you want your child to master a second language, forget about grammar exercise books and conjugation tables. Instead, consider a language immersion daycare. Belmont has several fantastic institutions that teach children a second language through the arts, games, and literature. If your child attends these schools long enough, it is likely that within a few years he will be speaking like a native.

challenge school

Expose your child to the best of Eastern and Western culture at Challenge School in Belmont, California, a language immersion daycare that just opened its Belmont campus in the 2006/2007 school year. Challenge School is committed to teaching children about Chinese culture, specifically Mandarin culture and language. Did you know that there is no such thing as a “Chinese” language? There are more than 50 minority groups in China, and each group has its own spoken language. However, Mandarin, or putonghua as it is called by native speakers, is China’s official business language and the most universally spoken Chinese language.

At Challenge School, your child will be taught to speak and write Mandarin by exposing it on a daily basis. If he or she is between the ages of two and five, you can check out AppleSeed’s Toddler Class, which uses fun arts and activities to introduce young children to language. There are also various enrichment classes in Chinese folk dance, abacus, kung fu, go, and Chinese instruments to foster a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture in older children. In addition, children and their parents are invited to participate in exciting school-wide events, especially the Chinese New Year Party, the Moon Festival Party, and the Summer Talent Show.

universe of colors

Learning a new language should feel more like a game than a boring lesson. In Universe of Colors’ fun and engaging language immersion programs, children learn Spanish, Italian, French and Mandarin through music, plays, crafts and more. All curricula are interactive and age-appropriate so your child can develop gross motor and social skills along with the second language. Since each class is very small (no more than 6 students per class), the children quickly gain confidence to speak the language in an informal and intimate setting.

Universe of Colors designed its programs so that you can have several options in terms of languages, times and schedules. If your child is between the ages of 1 and 2, you may want to join the Mommy and Me program, a parent involvement program where you and your toddler can learn Spanish, French, or Mandarin together. There is also a preschool program for children from 2 to 5 years old. Your child can attend all five days or just one or two days a week. Either way, your child won’t be left behind; Classes are centered around a letter of the week and a theme of the month, allowing your child to participate in activities even if you attend infrequently. Kindergartners and older children can join Universe of Colors’ after-school language programs, which focus on music and art to expose children to a new language.