Introducing Irish into the home is one of the best things you can do to help your child learn their native language.
After all, the more accustomed they are to hearing it, the easier it will be for them to pick it up.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of five easy ways to bring the Irish language into your home every day.
1. Start with the familiar
To help further your child’s understanding of the language, stick labels on items they use regularly. On each label, write the name of the item in Irish and have them refer to those items ‘as Gaeilge’ from there on. Items can include the fridge, wardrobe, computer, and even specific foods.
Don’t overwhelm your son or daughter by introducing too many words at first. They will struggle to remember certain ones and it will simply become a source of frustration for them. Instead, start with five words and when you think your child is ready to learn some more, add five more.
2. Incorporate the language into daily life
Understanding a language becomes easier when it is incorporated into your youngster’s day-to-day life. One of the best ways to do this is to introduce them to the cartoons on TG4’s Cúla4.
Programmes such as Eachtraí Bert & Ernie (Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures) will interest your child greatly and help them relate to the language.
The more relevant you can make the language to their everyday life, the easier it will be for them to pick it up and retain it.
3. Gaeilge games
Buy your child an age-appropriate Irish language phrasebook. When you bring them for a walk, point out the different things you see, such as flowers, cows, stones, and have them find the words in Irish. You can do the same with household items.
Play a game to see if they can identify the word in Irish without having to refer to the phrasebook. They will enjoy it even more if you let them test you too.
4. Swap English words for Irish
A great way to start introducing Irish into the home is to start by swapping certain English phrases for Irish ones. Instead of saying ‘excuse me’, say ‘gabh mo leithscéal’, or ‘Oíche Mhaith’ instead of goodnight. You can find lots of Irish phrases online or on the free TG4 app, Cúla Caint.
5. Futa Futa CD books
Pass a rainy afternoon by listening to a CD book with your child. Futa Futa have some excellent CD books that allows children to follow the storyteller’s voice on the CD thus making them a very valuable learning tool.
To make learning Irish easier for your little one, Cúla4 want to give away an iPad! To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, all you have to do is tell us the funniest, most bizarre requests your kids have made. For all details and to enter, click here.
