"Mamma, why do you and Dada speak differently?"
"Mamma, why do Ajji and Thaatha sound different when they speak English?"
"Mamma, why does my friend Amy sound different from me?"
Are you raising kids in a country other than your heritage country? Are you a cross cultural couple, or have family members with different accents? Does your family sound different from folks in your immediate environment? We have a combination of all the above!
If you are in any of these situations, then your kid already has or will ask these questions and trust me, it has definitely crossed their mind!
You may wonder, “Do I need to be talking to my little one about having an accent?” “Will I be unnecessarily making them conscious of it?”
But the truth is kids can start recognizing accents as early as 6 months old.
Click here to read and understand how kids recognize accents.
HAVE YOUR HAD YOUR FIRST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACCENTS? Here are a few tips to help you.
1. Start by asking your little one what they know about accents. This will help you get a sense of their understanding of accents and what they are interested in learning more about.
2. Ask your little one how they feel about their accent. This will help you get a sense of their perspective and what they are comfortable talking about.
3. An accent means ….Explain in a simple way. “It’s difference in the way we pronounce words” “Different languages we speak influences the way we speak and form sounds.
4. Reassure your little one that their accent is beautiful and unique. Explain that accents are a way of expressing our identity and culture, and that they should be proud of theirs.
5. Talk about the positive aspects of their accent. For example, you could point out that their accent makes them sound more interesting or that it helps them connect with people from their culture.
6. Model positive behavior yourself. Be proud of your own accent and make sure that you are not making negative comments about other people's accents.
7. Be patient. It may take some time for your little one to fully understand the concepts you are discussing. Be patient and answer any questions they may have.
Here are some beautiful phrases you can use, again and again to nurture confidence.
"Your accent is beautiful and unique. It's a part of who you are and I'm so proud of it."
"If someone makes fun of your accent, you can tell them that you're proud of your heritage and that you're not going to let them make you feel bad about it."
"Remember, your accent is a part of who you are and it's something to be proud of.”
Watch me have a conversation with my little one about different accents.
Follow here for 1 min reels on more conversations like this
Peek here for books, games, playkits, songs and more...
Love,
Busy Bees @indigrowkids
Leave a comment