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If I put a DVD on in the car, my kids WILL watch it.
SO I was looking for Spanish DVDs to play in the van around town!
Note, I have kids 0-8, and this post applies to the 2-8 year olds :) I bought all these DVDs on my own in a quest to find more language input for my kids with no work on my part. My standards were pretty low... we usually just put them on in the van... haha!
We left a Whistlefritz video in... for a GOOD LONG while.
No one complained.
In fact, the 4 year old would repeat it throughout other parts of our day? I was amazed.
It literally was a way I could get them to speak Spanish, have more input, with NO effort on my part.
(Except a few songs get stuck in your head... ALL DAY. At least they're not awkward baby songs, actually most are authentic cultural songs!)
Here's a link to them before I go on to my least favorites :)
SO, what are the best Spanish DVD's for kids? Meaning, the best Spanish DVDs to teach kids a new language? Here they are, DEFINITELY not in order :)
They also have French!
What is Whistlefritz?
Fritzy is a little mouse that comes in and out of play during the show. But mostly it's an adorable Spanish actress talking directly to the kids in ALL Spanish. Even Jorge Luis Orozco makes an appearance, he's SUCH an amazing latino singer. The kids laugh, they reply to the screen, and my kids ages range from 2-8 (those participating!).
Those links (above) are to the full collection. I bought them one at a time... but we quickly bought them all. Haha! But if I HAD to choose JUST ONE, ehhh... maybe try this one :) Yes, they all have themes, but they do a great job incorporating those words into useful phrases or phrases we've been practicing at home (Do you want... do you have.... what is this... etc). For sure a 10/10.
So, is Whistlefritz worth it? HECK YES. We use Homeschool Languages as our guide to the formal education for our kids, but for just additional language input that actually HELPS- this definitely takes the cake! (Get the digital version on amazon prime, too!)
OKAY, now on to more DVDs we tried.. again because I wanted more language input with zero effort on our part.
2. MUZZY!
What is Muzzy?
Muzzy is a free video you can find online- that's where I first saw it! I think he's an alien.
But straight to the point, Muzzy is weird.
Yes it has simple phrases they repeat, but none that are particularly catchy where my kids repeat them in other situations. They breeze through other vocab (like suddenly they talk all about the vegetables...?) but my kids don't like it enough for it to be on repeat in the car.
So, is the Muzzy DVD worth it?
I bought the full DVD set just to have more options for us in the van, and although I think we'll continue through the set just for fun, these were definitely not worth it. Sorry, Muzzy!
What is Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids?
This is a show of English-speaking kids speaking Spanish in home situations. It's neat because my kids see themselves- just some white kids speaking Spanish and looking cool doing it. These kids have great accents which is so helpful, and I LOVE the vocab they're teaching- they're exactly what we're learning and practicing at home.
Because of just that, I give it 8/10.
So, is Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids worth it?
I'd say yes. They won't be the most played, but they'll be great in your repertoire.
They're short videos, so we run through them really fast, and they definitely don't "stick" in the DVD player (meaning they're not requested or on repeat for awhile). No music for my little kids, so they're not catchy like Whistlefritz. But for what they are, review of common phrases shown in normal situations as an example of how my kids should be using it at home, just like what we're working on in the Homeschool Languages curriculum, it works wonderfully. My son (8) even asks to pause it at the "good parts" so the next time we get in the van it'll start at that section!
What is Rock N Learn Spanish?
To me, it's basically a singing version of video flashcards. They sing a popular phrase in English, then in Spanish. When I put this on, I definitely expected some groans to come from the back of the van- but honestly the kids were hooked. They would try and guess the Spanish before the show said it! No storyline, just themes.
It's unfortunately catchy... in an odd way. Give it a try, I hesitate to give this an 9/10... I feel so odd that it actually worked, haha! Get it and you'll see what I mean.
5. Canticos DVD:
This one FLIES by! But it's something we can listen to again and again.
What is Canticos?
Canticos is a bunch of well known Spanish songs that they play both in Spanish and English! So it's less intimidating for the kids just starting out learning Spanish. It's definitely the best way to introduce your young child to some very traditional Spanish songs. The cartoons are adorable and the characters are easy to fall in love with. Yes, they're usually childish songs, but since the voice of the main singer is so pretty I don't mind this one being on replay!!
So is the Canticos DVD worth it? YES. Especially because then your kids can watch it and avoid Youtube.
We give this a 8/10 on the learning Spanish scale- although it's 10/10 entertainment, it doesn't have much daily words and phrases. But hey, sometimes you need to just fall in love with Spanish itself and it's culture!
Having more language input definitely creates a stronger understanding of the language. So although there's good, better, and best, ANYTHING is better than nothing.
If you're looking for a way to help Spanish OUTput, the best way to get your kids to speak a new language is through Homeschool Languages. It empowers YOU, the parent, through scripted lessons, to playfully banter with the language so it carries on throughout your daily life. Try it today! Homeschoollanguages.com
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