English speaking toys, please
We noticed this while Christmas shopping, but my mom was shopping at
Toys R Us today and she had a hard time finding infant toys that only
speak English. Counting, ABC's, colors, shapes...all the toys teach it
in English, also in Spanish, and other languages on a few toys. I'm
all for learning a foreign language, but does an infant need to learn 2
or more languages. I understand teaching more than one language in a
bilingual home. We aren't bilingual and alot of the new infant toys
are speaking languages other than English. What are your thoughts?
We noticed too
I don't know. We noticed it too when looking for presents, but we have mixed reviews. We think it's nice that toys are made in two languages because that is where our world is headed, but we also think that if you live in this country, you need to speak the language. It's a double edged sword and a very touchy subject sometimes especially since English is being pushed aside.
**note, this is not meant to offend anyone who speaks another language in any way. This is just our take on what we see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mommy to Jacob
no offense.
As lace715 mentioned, I meant absolutely no offense to anyone who speaks another language. My main concern is with infant toys. My oldest is 3, and he watches Dora and Diego, and I've heard him repeat numbers or colors in Spanish. This doesnt' bother me at all, as he has already learned them in English. The primary language in the US is English, yet most of the baby toys available are teaching colors and numbers, etc. in English, Spanish, French, etc. I just prefer to teach my children English first, before introducing other languages.
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
English--the language of the Free United States
I have to agree that if you live in the US you should speak English. Another language is your choice but the spoken language here is English. I think that alot of those toys are marketed in other countries as well. So if the mfg. can make a toy that serves many countries instead of having 5 toys that are the same execpt for the language it speeks it saves them money which saves us money too. I wonder what other countries experience ??
good question
I wonder if English is one of the "other" languages on toys in other countries? Interesting...
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
Yes I guess!
Really interesting subject and yes delicate at the same time indeed. I just moved from Mexico and the toys over there are all the same and almost all in English/Spanish/French (I never saw a toys in only spanish)and the parents are all pushing their children to learn as much as they can because we lived in a tourist place and English and Spanish are mandatory; more languages you know more your salary will go up. All the videos are in English and subtitled in Spanish in all theaters at the exceptions of kids movies.
I am originally from Canada and visit every year my family and I saw many toys and videos they have in English/Spanish/French even Dora & Diego. Many kids over there speak several languages and schools also push those 3 languages. For me this is perfect because I speak those 3 languages to my son and he understands all of them at only 19months so far; kids they are sponges. Of course everyone speaks to him in English so I am not worry that will be is “favorite” language later but at least he will have this for the future. Like Lace 715 said ” because that is where our world is headed”. It makes it very easy to travel around the world also and your kids might help you one day. This is only my personal opinion.