The Baby Steps in English suggestion is about children being experientially immersed in English, from a very early age, with the help of family members or minders, through telling, narration, play, craftwork and contemporary reality; technology.

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A rich language environment at home can help preschool age kids effortlessly immerse in a foreign language. The aim is to get children to recognize sounds, syllables, words, phrases and chunks, through play activities and through blending images sound, motion, narration and the electronic language. Of course, grown-ups need help before plunging into “uncharted network waters” based on their needs, interests and the time they have available at hand.  

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The site provides suggestions to parents, nannies or child minders, interested in the Baby Steps In English. There is plenty of guidance on how to soak the daily routine of  children with English and how to create the “English time zone”. Ultimately, grown-ups and children will have fun together, listening to or watching the suggested material, moving, playing, drawing and later reading English together.  As the children role play what they see and hear, they follow the TPR method (Total Physical Response method). In this way, according to Nicholas Asher, Philosopher and linguist “children internalize everything and achieve fluency without going through an analysis process; in the very same manner they learn their first language”. 

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The Baby Steps in English suggestion helps parents, grandparents, kindergarten professionals, nannies with some knowledge of English to  have a restful and productive interaction with their children in English. Children watch the clips or play the games that appeal to them repeatedly. Part of this material concerns animals, nature, toys, people, colours, food, seasons, make believe scenarios with heroes, witches and dragons. The children are exposed  to the real or imaginary world in a playful manner, sharpen their minds and  at the same time immerse themselves in English.

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So you can create an informal, bilingual environment for your three year old through rhymes, songs, stories, cards or games. Each activity is a stepping stone for the next level. Immersion is achieved in play time by watching, listening, role playing, mimicking words and phrases, dramatizing tales and stories in a compelling way. In practice, this is an invitation to parents and child care practitioners to introduce English to young children in an easy, constructed, lively and engaging way. Reading e-stories to your little ones is another form of the good old times reading to kids activity with the only difference being that now these stories come alive and are dressed in sound, action, colour, and effects. 

The Baby Steps In English suggestion helps you to escape the daily grind and to create experiences, carefree and invaluable moments with your little ones.   

 
Further recommended reading and viewing 

• http://www.nature.com/news/babies-brains-may-be-tuned-to-language-before-birth-1.12489 

• The Best Resources For Learning The Advantages To Being Bilingual. larryferlazzo.edublogs.org  

• Bilingualism “boosts your brain power”. Learning a second language could lead to an increase in brain power, by WalesOnline,  BBC, on google search. 

• Learning Another Language Makes Your Brain Grow Bigger — Literally | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites , larryferlazzo.edublogs.org, google search