BOCA BETH: One Song at a Time

Well, well……it’s almost time for MY children to return to their traditional public school setting so I imagine most families are beginning to think ROUTINE!!!!  Some sense of normalcy shall return to most of our lives within the next 48 hours.

With that being said, I would like to refer you to these quick resources as we get back to helping our young children learn with music and movement fun - the way our Boca Beth Program highly suggests introducing a 2nd language to little ones ages birth - eight or ten!

Want some piano fun with your little one?  Try this Leap Frog Learn & Groove Piano for only $8.99 on amazon.com.  Colors and shapes are the focus of this cute bilingual toy.  Again, I have not tried this item personally since my own children are 19, 16 and 8….but I read the reviews and they are positive.

And how about some maracas to reinforce the counting learned on our Me gusta contar / I Like to Count song!?!?!  These are adorable and affordable and fun to use as you make your own conga line to shake to our Boca Beth bilingual beats!  Used and new from $14.99.

Go here for a cool toy from Intelli-Toy called the Smart-e-Bear.  It’s kind of pricey ($74.99) and seems to have some first generation challenges which I feel can be worked out in time.  But overall I feel it’s one of those new finds I have heard about, never used, but feel it has good potential to supplement the bilingual learning going on with families who have young children ages 2-5!

You know, I was thinking, for the same cost of that little Smart-e-Bear you can get an entire Boca Beth Gigante Bag which has both of our DVDs, all three of our full length bilingual music CDs, two of our BOCA puppets (one for parent and one for child), our 44-page language learning book which is full of coloring and activity fun, a mini maraca and a cute little egg shaker all inside of a machine wash canvas bag!!!!!!

I know I am a bit biased on what works well for introducing Spanish and English to little ones, but compare more than 750 words and 200 phrases being introduced to your little one with music and movement fun that you can all enjoy together as a family to a stuffed bear that is software driven that your child will much more quickly tire of and max out on.

Happy Educating, and Happy Routines!

Boca Beth

I wrote this only two days ago, have it out for publishing for end of the week and wanted to share it today, on this very Happy New Year’s Day 2009….God bless….May we all be touched by happiness and love and gratitude as we enter a new year filled with hope.

Thank you / Gracias for being a part of my community……

Resolutions for the New Year from a Toddler

 Just in time for the New Year, this perspective from a two year old sheds humor and freshness on those resolutions we make and try to keep each year.

I realize I am a lot! There is no hiding the fact that us two-year-olds demand a lot of attention, require a lot of time from anyone within a two hundred yard radius, and create total exhaustion for those caring for us! I try really hard to be good each and every minute, but all of us know that is not in the realm of possibility.

I will, however, in these following words state my resolutions for the upcoming New Year. I heard from a play date buddy of mine that you adults do this all of time and never stick to them. So I was thinking maybe I could challenge you over-thirty-something people and present my own for 2009!

First of all, I am going to try to stop saying the word NO all the time. I totally get that it is really annoying to you, and I do not really like the harsh sound of it either. Especially when it is coming from your mouth to my little ears. So, could we strike a deal and both resolve not to use the word NO so many times in a one hour period?

Second of all, I really need to work on that other word I have developed a strong affection for, sometimes an affection that travels above and beyond my saliva soaked blankie! That word would be MINE. I am well aware that not everything within my two- year-old, laser like eyesight is mine! You think I really believed that Spanish textbook from high school cousin Leo truly belonged to me? Come on! I just loved the picture of the piñata on the front that reminded me of my recent birthday party. You know the party. The one you guys spent almost three hundred dollars on just to see how cute I could be smashing into my cake!

Thirdly, I will be better at sharing this coming year. Sharing kind of goes hand in hand with that MINE thing. I just need to focus. Focus on the big picture that there are other things in the room that I can play with even when three of us want the same thing at the same time. I can step up to the plate, really I can! I will try to be the big guy on the block next time and rise above the temptation to not share.

Fourth in line for resolutions for the New Year for this handsome two-year-old is the point in question so often throughout our day, and that would be the potty. What? You wonder why I keep refusing to go? Have you heard those auto flushers in the public bathrooms my friend? You know the ones, they sound as if they are going to suck an entire ship down into the bowels of the foundation of the mall! It scared the heck out of me, and I have never been the same since. I am afraid to go sit on our potty at home. But I will try really hard in 2009 to not relate the shape and feel of our friendly home potty to that of the mall monster potty!

Only two resolutions to go. I felt six was a fair number to shoot for at the tender age of two!

This fifth resolution is all about those circles under your eyes that make you resemble the raccoon in my favorite naptime DVD. Ooops! There it is. I just said it. The infamous naptime and even more infamous bedtime. I resolve to be a happier partner in getting me to rest this coming year. I really did listen to the pediatrician. I so understand that I need my sleep in order to develop properly. But that same DVD with Mr. Ralph Raccoon is so cool even on the fiftieth time around that I do not want to fall asleep. So please, could we try a soothing story instead of a jungle gym mentality movie this year during rest time and sleep time?

And lastly, my most important resolution for the coming New Year has to do with helping me become a really cool person as I grow up in this world that seems to be changing monthly if not daily. I so need to be prepared to speak a bunch of different languages other than English, and I resolve to watch more Dora the Explorer, Handy Manny, Dragon Tales, and other things that will help me learn other languages.

Do you not agree, all of you monolingual adults reading these resolutions from a toddler? Many of you kick yourselves in the rear end, as mommy calls it, for not being bilingual yourself. You wish you had not skipped high school French class so many times or you do internet searches for an easy and inexpensive language learning program for adults that will have you flying to Spain in no time, both bilingual and biliterate.

Not me amigos, not me friends. I am going to be Prepared with a capital P! So my number one resolution for this coming year is to let any language fall upon these cute, tender little ears of mine, allow my mind to soak them all up like the little sponge that my brain is right now, and begin to say NO in both Spanish and English. NO!  ¡NO!

About the Author

Keynote speaker, bilingual educator and consultant Beth Butler is the founder of the BOCA BETH Program for young children. Enjoyed on The Education Channel, you can sample the BOCA BETH bilingual music and movies for free at http://www.BocaBeth.com
Call toll free 1.877.825.2622

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

I follow another blogger who is named Mary Ann Zehr.  She blogs for Education Week and does a terrific job presenting topics very objectively for readers to be informed without bias.

Read here a very brief overview of who is being recommended by the education review team for Obama’s administration. 

I have mentioned before, and I will do so again & again…Obama spoke during his campaign about the need for focus on Early Childhood Education.  I pray he stands firm on this point and does so early in his first year in office.  For it is those first five formative years where we can truly help our young children get a sound jump start on learning languages.  Did you realize the following:

• Before the age of five young children hold no inhibitions about making mistakes in their new language
• Before the age of five young children love learning with music & movement fun providing for long term retention
• Before the age of five young childen will experience early reading skills should they experience two languages presented to them side-by-side
• Before the age of five young children will enjoy native or near-native pronunciation of a new language
• By the age of five 90% of the brain is developed

President Obama, hear my personal plea, as a mom of three and as a bilingual educator of thousands, we need help during the very early years of these children’s lives.  Our country continues to miss the mark on when to begin second (and even 3rd and 4th) language learning.  Other countries insist their little children begin learning more than their native language early in life - as early as age 3 & 4!  Might the United States of America become a front runner in this mind set?

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Beth Butler, Founder of The Boca Beth Program

Sometimes these great reviews come out of the blue, and I simply love to share them with readers who still might be wondering if our CDs work and our resources join together to introduce Spanish as a 2nd language to English-speaking children…and vice versa…English to Spanish-speaking children.

Click here please to read this short, unsolicited review of our My First Songs in Spanish/Mis primeras canciones en Inglés music CD.

Boca Beth Bilingual Music CD Teaches Children Spanish & English

What do you think about using music CDs to help introduce a new language to children between the age of birth and eight years young?  Do you find teaching with music an age-appropriate method and viable for long term retention?

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

Every year at this time I marvel at the fact that hundreds of children sit by their Christmas trees on that very special morning, and amongst the gifts they “Ooohh” and “Aaahh” are fun Boca Beth CDs, DVDs, BOCA puppets, coloring/activity books and brightly colored musical shakers!

As the creator of this terrific music and movement fun for little ones, I am so touched and so rewarded by the fact that parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles and really good friends spend their hard earned money on our cool bilingual products.

Child Coloring in a Boca Beth Coloring/Activity Book

Thank you to all of you who have believed in me, in my Boca Beth Program and in the products that support our methodology of children learning both English and Spanish side-by-side in a true and seamless bilingual presentation.

Are there other methods?  Of course!  But this is the method we believe in, we invest our passion, energy and money on, and the one that little children (ages birth to eight or so) respond to so well.  Immersion can work with little children, but we believe it’s not the most realistic nor the easiest to implement in homes across the world.  Bilingual presentation allows for often times speedier acquisition of the new language as it is presented alongside the native langauge plus the long term retention seems best with bilingual learning.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

As a classroom teacher back in the early 80s we did not have internet access to FREE ideas to help us be even better teachers.

Today, stay-at-home moms, teachers, homeschooling moms and providers can hop on their computers and download FREE ideas to introduce new concepts to the little children they love and care for.

With Christmas only two days away (as my 8-year-old daughter so happily reminded me this morning!) I am providing you a list of links to hop on for a plethora of wonderful Christmas/La Navidad activities:

1. This gal Diane shares lots of fun ideas to introduce many of the world languages almost daily!  Click here to hear a Spanish version of Jingle Bells and then read some of her most recent posts for other activities, coloring sheets and so on for Christmas Fun with Kids!
2. Whenever I need inspiration to bring Spanish and English together even more than I already do, I hop on over to Jessica’s blog for ideas and fun inspiration.  Click here for some of her cool activities for Christmas bilingual fun!
3. Ready to download free coloring Christmas Sheets that are bilingual and bring Spanish and English together for your family?  Click here amigas, amigos, friends!!!  Simply click the top blue download button.  Compliments of Foreign Language House.  They have cool downloads you can buy for $1, $2 and $3 also for additional fun in both languages!
4. Ever used Enchanted Learning?  Now, these pages on this link are NOT bilingual, but just cute, free activitiy ideas for those “What am I going to do today with the kids?” days!  Then, while on the site, nosy around for some bilingual, Spanish & English fun …. they have lots for all year round!  Click here to enter this FREE site!!!!

That should keep you busy my friends.  

Boca Beth

Congrats to my new amiga Leah in Los Angeles!

She won the Pick Three Plus A Tee from our Boca Beth Program!  Leah wins one of our Spanish and English music CDs for children ages birth - ten PLUS she chose both of our bilingual DVDs that feature BOCA the puppet and language amigo to share with her little boy!  And she tells me Daddy will be wearing the BOCA Santa t-shirt!

Boca Beth sports the BOCA Santa t-shirt

Sorry if you did not win, but there is still time to shop on our web site - click here!

Shipping is free!  I gift wrap for free (just ask in the comment section)!

Guaranteed to get to you or your special someone by Wednesday, December 24th!

How you might ask - well……………we aren’t telling the whole world/mundo, but if you order a minimum of $70 worth of our bilingual music and movement fun for little children, we will overnight it to you today and Tuesday!  At no extra cost to you!

Merry Christmas Week Ahead!  And congratulations to our amiga in LA!

What contests would you like to see from us next year?  We would love to hear your creative ideas!  Post your comments and suggestions below!

Boca Beth

It’s a one-of-a-kind my friends!

There are only three of these in the entire world!

BOCA Santa Shirt Part of Contest

 YES!  The shirt above can be yours in our Pick Three Plus A Tee contest - the last 2008 Boca Beth Program Contest.  Total Value:  up to $65.00

Pick Three means you pick any three items from the list below if you are chosen as the winner of this contest that ends Friday, December19, 2008 at 5 pm EST:

• My First Songs in Spanish bilingual music CD
• More Boca Beth bilingual music CD
• Sing Along with Boca Beth bilingual music CD
• Mi casa/My House bilingual DVD
• I Like Animals bilingual DVD
• 2 BOCA puppets
• 1 pair of children’s mini maracas
• 1 pair of children’s egg shakers
• 3 bilingual coloring / activity books

Here is how you enter the contest my friends:  It’s simple.  Leave a post below about who you will be sharing the items from the Pick Three with and who will wear the BOCA Santa shirt. 

Winner will be chosen via random drawing.  So if you want your name in the hat more than once then do any of the following:

1. Subscribe to the RSS feed of my blog so you can stay in touch with our future contests, tips on teaching Spanish to little children and more.
2. Ttweet about this on Twitter
3. Blog about this on your blog
4. Stumble this post
5. Digg this post
6. And anything else you can do to let the world/el mundo know about this contest 

Let me know you have done extra!!

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

Children sing and dance learning Spanish with Boca Beth

What a fun time!  My last two events for this year 2008 at Bloomingdale Library in Valrico, Florida with children and their moms, dads, grandmas, caregiver and even an auntie was there!

Love, love, love this part of my Boca Beth Program!  Bringing Spanish and English to life with the bilingual songs I have written and recorded over the past six years in person ROCKS!  Witnessing the little two year old sing back to me “Circle is a círculo” during my I Know My Shapes / Yo sé mis formas song almost made me start crying!  (Check out the lyrics to this song I wrote to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb.)  It’s the 14th song down on the list!

Boca Beth Bilingual Music CD

This stuff really works!  I mean, I know, I know. I am the founder, I have spent countless hours, dollars and love on this project, but to be in the middle of a group of dancing and singing and excited toddlers and preschool age children as they learn my music for the first time really proves to me it works, and it works within minutes!

Thank you God for this gift you gave me!  And thank you to everyone who has supported my belief that these little children CAN learn a second language before elementary school, and they will be better wired for later language learning should you choose to use my Boca Beth products and tips and techniques!

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth   

P.S. (A super cool contest starts right here tomorrow - Saturday, December 13th, 2008!!!)

I love, love, love this time of year!

I hope you are having fun - staying out of the stress side and enjoying the true meaning of Christmas. . .

Ready for a cool way to win something to put under the Christmas tree for your child?  It’s our Boca Beth bilingual music CD titled My First Songs in Spanish (click here to read the concepts introduced on this easy to follow along with Spanish and English CD for kids - more than 100 words and 30 phrases taught on just this one CD!!!!) up for grabs along with one of our BOCA hand puppets (made in the USA still!!!) and a brightly colored mini maraca (lead free/toy tested!!!).