Parents Look for New Ways to Expose Children to Languages

LONDON, ENGLAND, September 03, 2010

Forward thinking parents are now looking for new ways to encourage their offspring to learn a second language including hiring foreign language speaking nannies, enrolling in language classes and using bilingual educational materials at home.

In contrast to the recent news of a drop in the number of students taking GCSE in languages, many parents are looking for ways to encourage their children to learn a second language at an early age. It is not uncommon for a first or even a second nanny to be hired by working parents, who can speak another language. Parents ask the nanny to speak to the child in that language in the hope that it will give them a good start on the road to fluency.

The celebrity couple Angelina Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt, collectively known as 'Brangelina' and Madonna have taken steps to encourage speaking of another language by their young families. Brangelina has enrolled all 6 children ranging from 9 year old Maddox to 2 year old twins Knox and Vivienne into a French language learning program. Madonna has enrolled her two youngest children at the top notch preschool in New York, Le Petit Paradis who run a language program for 2.9 years to 5 year old children.

Melanie Thomas, the CEO of Melrose Kids Ltd the UK distributor for the Brainy Baby Co http://www.brainy-baby.co.uk (suppliers of language educational DVDs for children), has noticed that demand for her products are increasing. "We are new to the market, but interest is certainly rising and I can't see it dropping, especially with the recent news about exam results. Parents want to give their children the best chances and opportunities in life by giving them a strong educational foundation. Learning another language helps with analytical and problem solving skills."

Research has shown that learning a language before the age of 10 can enable fluent speech as an adult. Nick Clegg, the British Prime Minister's right hand man, learnt Dutch and Spanish at an early age. He now makes an impressive and democratic resource for the government by speaking 4 foreign languages and conversing with foreign ministers in their own language.

It seems that the UK isn't the only English speaking country to be concerned about their students missing out on international job opportunities. The budget shortfalls of the US are impacting the funding of language lessons in classrooms on the other side of the Atlantic. Private foreign language classes are just as in demand there with a jump of 51% in enrolments for French, Spanish and Mandarin classes for children over the last year for Lango.

To learn more about the children's language lessons on DVD that the Brainy Baby Co offer in 12 different languages, visit their website http://www.brainy-baby.co.uk.

For 15 years, The Brainy Baby Company has been a pioneer and leader in DVDs, Books, Games and Toys for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Brainy Baby products are sold in more than 60 Countries. The award- winning line of videos, CDs, books, games, and toys introduce educational subjects such as languages, letters, shapes, animals, art and music. Brainy Baby videos feature multi-ethnic children, original music, nursery rhymes and instrumental classics. http://www.brainy-baby.co.uk