Spanish and Movement Class Combined at School of Enrichment

Spanish and Movement Class Combined at School of Enrichment

By, Katie Brandow, LCSW

One of the most joyful parts of our week is watching children learn through movement and Spanish with our Enrichment Specialist, Kellee Blanchard.

Young children are naturally wired to learn through movement. They sing, dance, jump, clap and explore long before they can sit still for extended periods of time. When movement is combined with language, learning becomes meaningful, engaging and fun.

That’s exactly what makes this class so special. We hear from a lot of people in the community offering to teach specialty classes but as soon as we met Kellee and saw her do a sample class for us, we were 100% in. Our students, parents and teachers love this class. So much so, that we conducted our entire Summer Kickoff program with our Spanish song taught by Kellee. Head – Shoulders – Knees – And – Toes à Cabeza – Hombros – Rodilas y Pies .

Spanish introduced in a developmentally appropriate way isn’t memorizing vocabulary words, children are introduced to Spanish through songs, games and movement-based activities. They’re learning with their whole bodies, which helps make new words and concepts easier to remember while keeping the experience playful.

Research shows that early exposure to a second language supports brain development, strengthens listening skills and encourages flexible thinking. Children who hear multiple languages also begin to understand that people communicate in different ways, helping them develop curiosity, empathy and an appreciation for the diverse world around them. – Pubmed

One question we occasionally hear from parents is, “Does my child need to know a second language before kindergarten?”

The answer is no.

Our goal isn’t for preschoolers to become fluent in Spanish. Our goal is to introduce children to another language in a joyful, pressure free environment where they can build confidence, develop an ear for new sounds and discover that learning something new can be exciting. This brings us back to wanting these early learning years to ignite a love of learning as the premise.

Just as importantly, they’re learning that there are many cultures, traditions and ways of communicating. Those early experiences help children develop openness, respect and curiosity, qualities that will serve them throughout their lives.

At School of Enrichment, we believe preschool should introduce children to new experiences while keeping learning developmentally appropriate and centered around play. Kellee’s Movement and Spanish class is a wonderful example of that philosophy in action.

Every week, we watch children leave class smiling, singing new songs and proudly sharing the Spanish words they’ve learned. Those moments show us again and again that the most meaningful learning happens when children are simply having fun.