25+ Resources to Promote Spanish Listening Practice for Kids
What is Spanish listening practice for kids, and why does it matter?
When it comes to introducing children to a second language, listening and reading are key components. It’s also essential to incorporate play for kids in the learning process so that they associate language learning with having fun and have plenty of opportunities to speak Spanish.
Keep reading to discover the best resources for Spanish listening practice for kids today, including podcasts, reading activities, videos, and more! Since everyone learns differently, I’ve included diverse listening resources appropriate for kids of all ages.
The Benefits of Kids Learning Spanish
I learned both Spanish and English at a young age, and it has truly been one of the best things to happen to me. It has opened more doors than I ever thought it would. It was all thanks to my translator mother who had also experienced the benefits of being bilingual.
In today’s globalized digital world, it’s important to expand yourself and your kids by learning a second language. By introducing your children to Spanish, you give them a chance at greater fluency and access to countless professional opportunities later on.
Spanish is spoken in Spain, Latin America and the U.S. It is one of the most popular languages around the globe. Here are 5 important benefits of learning a foreign language.
26 Resources to Promote Spanish Listening Practice for Kids
Amazing resources for Spanish listening practice for kids are available nowadays. Check out this excellent guide on how to practice listening.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks have quickly become popular because sometimes it’s challenging to get kids’ attention to read a book or find time to read to them. So, let’s begin with a list of the best places to find great audiobooks.
1. On Spotify, Spanish Stories for Kids is a good playlist to start with. It features a range of Spanish stories for different levels, so you can tailor your listening to your child’s needs.
2. Unite for Literacy offers simple books to listen to. They include Spanish text so that kids can follow along and practice listening and reading simultaneously.
3. The Spanish Experiment provides famous English stories that have been translated into Spanish. It includes fairy tales that have been recorded in Spanish, accompanied by transcripts.
4. Storybooks Canada offers great stories for all levels in different languages including Spanish. It also has stories from all over the world so that kids can learn about animals found in different countries. They provide books
5. Librivox is a site that offers classic Spanish books, so it’s more for older kids. It’s a great way to expose kids to classics such as Ruben Darío and Jules Verne. All in Spanish of course.
Apps
If your child uses a tablet or smartphone, these apps are a great way to promote Spanish listening practice for kids.
6. Duolingo is a free app that offers listening activities for kids to practice their skills. Many of the activities prompt kids to listen and repeat what they hear. It’s a good tool to practice pronunciation that’s ideal for older kids.
7. Gus on the Go is great for younger kids and focuses on vocabulary and new words in Spanish. The full version costs $3.99, but a free version of the app is available.
8. Spanish School Bus is a great app for young kids who are learning colors, shapes, and numbers. It costs $4.99 but offers a free trial. Available on Android and Apple.
9. StudyCat is an app with listening, speaking, spelling and vocabulary activities for younger kids. A free trial is available, and a subscription costs $39.99 per year.
10. KinderLingo focuses on vocabulary and provides games so that kids can practice their skills by playing. It’s free! Available for Android and Apple.
Music Playlists
Music is an excellent way to engage in Spanish listening practice for kids. A melody helps children remember what they learned. Add some fun lyrics, and you have a mini Spanish lesson!
11. This Spanish Playlist songs is also found on Spotify and a wonderful one for kids of all ages. It includes emotions like ¡Alegría! And Mundo de Colores so you can practice colors with your kids too!
12. This playlist is called Favorite Clean songs which means it has easy to follow vocabulary for parents and kids alike. Favorite Songs for Spanish Class includes popular music.
13. 123 Andrés is a singer that brings music for kids that are learning Spanish so it’s perfect. It’s targeted towards younger learners.
14. Sonia de los Santos is an artist that sings songs for the whole family to enjoy together. She sings about parents, joy and the moon. A great opportunity for the whole family to learn together.
15. Ana Calabrese has great songs about vowels, body parts and the days of the week. It’s excellent for beginner students.
YouTube Channels
YouTube is a great resource for Spanish listening practice for kids because videos are an effective way to capture kids’ attention; especially if they’re young. I know my niece and nephew love to watch, dance, and sing along to YouTube videos regularly.
16. Spanish Academy TV is HSA’s very own YouTube channel. Here you’ll find educational videos to help you and your kids’ Spanish-speaking goals.
17. Super Simple Spanish is best for young kids. Their animated songs encourage kids to sing and dance along as they learn new Spanish songs.
18. Basho and Friends is better for older learners and covers the basics such as the alphabet, number, and even tamales! It’s a fabulous way to learn about different Spanish-speaking countries.
19. Mundo VeoVeo is a series for young kids. They cover topics such as cooking and they also have a playlist for your kids to follow along. They’re cute little dinosaurs that kids love!
Series and Cartoons
I must admit I still love watching cartoons. When it comes to Spanish listening practice for kids, cartoons are great because it encourages creativity.
20. Salsa is a PBS series designed to teach Spanish in an easy and quick way. It features episodes on topics including food, animals, and games so that kids can play while watching the series.
21. La biblioteca digital de niños is a site that has different episodes about food, colors and storytime. It’s a great way for kids to follow along sequencing in Spanish.
22. El Perro y El Gato is an animated show made for a beginner level and you can find episodes for kids of all ages.
Podcasts
Last but not least, podcasts are an excellent for Spanish listening practice for kids. Because you don’t have a visual, it encourages listening more carefully.
Podcasts are a free resource that allow your child to learn at their pace.
23. Eat Your Spanish is a superb podcast that discusses farm animals, games, and home-related topics. The audio is a mix of English and Spanish, so it’s perfect for beginner learners. It’s available on Android and Apple.
24. Spanish Stories for Kids are just that: Spanish stories that you can play for your kids in the car or at home and then you can have a fun activity after to see what they remember. Available on Android and Apple.
25. Cuentas Aventuras is a podcast for more advanced students with over 80 stories, fables, and jokes for kids to listen to in Spanish.
26. Allegro Mágico is a wonderful podcast to introduce kids of all ages to classical music. Every episode exposes kids to a famous composition and tells the story behind it. It includes music from different countries.
Why Resources Matter
Modern resources that promote Spanish listening practice for kids are becoming more and more popular. Why? Because they really work. We just have to know where to look so that the resources are reliable and effective for our goals.
Listening and speaking go hand-in-hand. So if you want your child to become fluent and learn Spanish effectively, sign up for a free class and give them the wonderful opportunity of becoming bilingual. They will definitely thank you one day. I know I have thanked my mother countless times for giving me the opportunity to be bilingual.
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