We are a family company. We are raising our children to be bilingual in an increasingly bilingual society. We hear from parents and teachers that schools, preschools and daycare centers are introducing their children to different languages especially Spanish at a very early age. Our project was developed when we found ourselves translating English videos into Spanish for our children. We looked for bilingual videos but could only find ones in either English or Spanish. We also wanted something that would entertain, educate and allow for our involvement.

"We saw our own children growing up in a world that is becoming increasingly more bilingual" according to Lizann Cruz-Hinds, the company's president and co-founder. "We also saw how easily our children move back and forth between English and Spanish, almost without thinking about it. We researched language recognition extensively and discovered that the perfect time for children to learn foreign languages is when they are first learning their own language. Introducing children to multiple languages at an early age gives them an important asset for the future, while actually enhancing their facility with their first language. We know that what we teach them today, will last a lifetime.

We created Fun with Languages with the knowledge that the first four to five years are essential to our children's intellectual, social and emotional growth. We take this occasion to introduce them to learning another language. Throughout the Video and DVD we used art, music, puppets, words and rhymes to introduce babies and toddlers to 2 different languages at the same time in an easy and FUN way. You do not have to be bilingual to enjoy the program because we specifically created the program to be a teaching aid for parents and grandparents. The words and rhymes are presented in a FUN way. We also provide the opportunity for you to interact with your child by encouraging object association, color recognition and repetition. The classical music features famous compositions in their entirety.

"Whether you are English-speaking and want to introduce your child to another language, or trying to teach your children-or yourself-English as a second language, our program is designed to make learning language exciting and fun," says Rick Hinds. "Our philosophy is that as the United States becomes more richly diverse, with Hispanic, Asian and other ethnic groups growing in size, all of our children will be better prepared for the future if they learn other languages now."

The Fun with Languages Company is focusing on providing videos and related products that may help prepare our children for the expected future bilingual environment. Research information suggests that pre-school children, who are taught two languages at the same time, have the potential to learn faster and read better.

Today, more parents recognize the advantages knowing a second language will offer their children in the future.

As children get older their second language skills are likely to:

Improve their communication skills in English. Help them develop a larger English vocabulary. Enhance their cultural awareness and understanding. Provide a foundation for learning other languages, later in life. Allow them to be better prepared for the future job marketplace

At first it may seem unreasonable to expect your child to retain information and understand all the words in both languages. However, research conducted at Johns Hopkins University concluded that children as young as eight months are capable of retaining information they see and hear. The study found that babies were more attentive to repetitive words, than those they heard only once or twice.

FACT: Today, children in the United States will find a need to be bilingual by the time they reach adulthood. American society has always been characterized by its racial and ethnic diversity. According to the 1999 U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 11.5% of the population classify themselves as Hispanic; however, due to their high migration, Hispanics are projected to account for 18% of the U.S. population by the year 2025. It is therefore our philosophy that our children will be better prepared in the future if they are given the opportunity to learn a second language. The Washington Post (3/7/01) stated, "The first Demographic data to emerge from the 2000 Census show the Hispanic population in the United States is growing faster than expected and is equal to or greater than that of the African Americans. Hispanics accounted for 40% of the United States resident population growth from 90-00."



There is no time like the PRESENT to make a difference in YOUR child's life!