How to explain Easter, Pancake Day and May 9 to a child abroad
For children growing up outside of Russia, their idea of «Russian» is primarily shaped by what happens in their family. They absorb some things on their own: food, habits, family jokes. A child picks up some things by themselves, while others they won't learn without adult conversation. The conversation can begin with spring holidays: this makes it easier to transition to the topic of [...]
Imposter syndrome in bilingual children: «I'm not Russian enough»
Sometimes a child understands Russian excellently, says something, but at the same time whispers: «I'm not a real Russian,» «I have a terrible accent,» «I'll say everything wrong anyway.» This is precisely the mix of shyness, shame, and a feeling of «I'm not good enough» that adults call imposter syndrome. Why do bilinguals develop the feeling of «I'm not Russian enough»? Children aged 8-14 especially [...]
Spring Vocabulary in Russian Poems: Learning Poems with Children Easily and Fun
Poems are not a school assignment. They are one of the most natural ways that language enters a child's memory and stays there for a long time. Why learn poems at all? The moment a child learns a poem, not just individual words remain in their memory. They remember the overall rhythm of speech, characteristic intonation, and familiar word combinations. This is what...
How to help a child not forget Russian during summer vacation
Three months without practice, and the vocabulary I've been gathering all year is starting to fade. But summer can be structured differently. Why is summer especially dangerous for language acquisition? The school year creates at least some structure. Lessons, a schedule, regular contact with the language. In the summer, this disappears. The child is fully immersed in an English-speaking environment: camp, friends, games, streaming, everything in English, from morning to [...]
10 Spring Activities with Children That Teach Russian Subtly
When the snow melts in North America and the first greenery appears, children once again start living outdoors. This is a good time to subtly weave the Russian language into everyday life. The most convenient moment to integrate Russian into daily life. Not in the form of a lesson, not in the form of «come on, repeat,» but simply as part of what you and […]
Why is a child moving away from the Russian language
How does it happen that in families people try to speak Russian, but only English is heard in response? Sometimes it looks very familiar. You address a child in Russian, and in response, you hear a single short word in English. Or you see a shrug. Or silence, which makes your insides clench. A whole bouquet of feelings arises: anxiety, annoyance, a little bit of resentment. It seems unfair, doesn't it? […]
How to talk to your child about life changes and why the Russian language helps
Moving isn't just about changing your address. For a child, it's a new school, unfamiliar faces, different rules, and the complete absence of everything they're used to. Adults often don't realize how much that is for one person, say, a seven-year-old. And at this point, many parents switch to English. With the best of intentions: so it's easier for the child, so they can [...]
From what age to teach a child Russian: a breakdown by stages
Almost all parents who have moved with young children ask this question. Some have heard that it's ideal before the age of three. Others are convinced that it's too late after seven. We're finding out what science says. A child's brain is not a sponge. A child's brain doesn't absorb everything equally well at any age. It has periods when it is particularly susceptible to [...]
«I Don't Want to Go to Class»: 7 Reasons Why a Child Resists and How to Deal With It
The child rolls their eyes, stalls for time, and invents excuses. It's the same thing every time. Let's break down what's behind it and what to do about it. Resistance isn't a tantrum. When a child says «I don't want to,» a parent's first instinct is to insist, and then to give in. Both options might work once, but neither solves the problem. Resistance is almost [...]
Cursive is being reintroduced in schools: handwriting is making a comeback
In April, Pennsylvania schools will return to cursive. A law was passed in February making cursive writing a mandatory subject alongside reading, history, and math. The requirement applies to public and private schools. Pennsylvania abandoned cursive in the early 2010s when it transitioned to Common Core standards. Previously, the focus was on keyboarding. Why is this necessary? According to […]