We got the best minds of TruFluency Kids together to create 3 easy steps to kickstart Spanish learning for your kid in 2026.
We hear a lot of parents say that helping their child learn Spanish can be overwhelming, expensive or something they just haven’t gotten around to do, so, if you have toying with this idea and want 2026 to be the year you do it, we wrote a simple 3 step plan to get your started, before the New Year and throughout the next year.
Step 1: Use Holidays to Spark Connection (and Spanish!)
The first step on our 3 easy steps to kickstart Spanish Learning begins NOW.
Holidays are basically cheat codes for language learning. Kids are excited, routines are flexible, and everything feels special, perfect for sneaking in Spanish.
Depending on your child’s age and level, try:
Holiday Activities + Spanish Words
- Look up 5–10 Spanish holiday words together (árbol, luces, chocolate caliente, regalos, etc.)
- Use the words as you decorate or prepare the house.
- Label things in Spanish with sticky notes—kids LOVE this.
Kitchen Time = Perfect Vocabulary Time
While you cook or bake:
- Count ingredients in Spanish
- Say simple instructions in Spanish (mezcla, corta, mezcla, espera)
- Play a Spanish playlist in the background
If you have our bilingual holiday freebies (recipes, labels, vocab cards), pull those out—they make it even easier.
Mini-activity ideas:
- Cookie decorating with Spanish color words
- Reading a short holiday story in Spanish
- Watching a holiday short film or video in Spanish
- Creating a holiday word treasure hunt
The magic is in the repetition and the moment. Kids remember what they enjoy. And if you are down for either of these activities be sure to download our freebies to get your started!
Recipes in Spanish Freebie!
12 Days of Christmas Freebie!
Step 2: Build Your “Bilingual Routine” for 2026
The second step in our 3 easy steps to kickstart Spanish Learning is about sneaking spanish consistently into your kiddos routine.
Here’s a plan that works even if you’re busy:
Choose Something They Already Love… in Spanish
K-Pop Demon Hunters is slaying and in it can be a fun watch in Spanish. Maybe your kid loves cats, or a specific cartoon. Most are available in streaming services in different languages.
Whatever it is, watch it together.
Tips:
- Use separate streaming profiles so the algorithm recommends Spanish content only.
- Pick one Spanish show for weekday TV time (“our Spanish show”).
- Don’t worry about understanding everything, the exposure is what matters.
Connect Class Vocabulary to Real Life
If your child takes Spanish classes:
- Use 2–3 of their weekly vocabulary words in your daily routine.
- Ask the same questions they practice in class (¿Qué ves? ¿Qué haces? ¿Te gusta?).
- Once a week at dinner, play the class songs or review flashcards.
This doubles, or even triples, the impact of every class.
Make Spanish a Habit, Not a Chore
Tiny switches that add up:
- Breakfast in Spanish (3–5 min)
- A Spanish song during bath time
- Saying goodnight in Spanish (just the last 3 phrases)
- “Spanish Sunday” where you try to use extra words around the house
10 minutes scattered through the day = real fluency over time.
Step 3: Create Real-Life Immersion Moments
Last step in these 3 easy steps to kickstart Spanish Learning is all about immersion.
You don’t have to travel across the world to get immersion… but if you do, even better.
Travel Tip (the One Most Parents Miss!)
If you’re traveling soon:
- Look for activities, markets, or parks where people don’t speak English.
- Give your child chances to listen, observe, and try simple phrases.
- Plan 1–2 hours of “authentic immersion time” where you just walk, explore, buy snacks, ask questions, and let language happen naturally.
This is the #1 confidence booster for kids.
At Home Immersion Hacks:
- Go to local markets where Spanish is spoken.
- Choose playdates or spaces with Spanish-speaking families.
- Visit bilingual libraries or community centers.
- Attend kid-friendly cultural events.
Kids learn languages through context, repetition, and relationships. Not grammar rules.
