paying for language lessons for a 2.5 year old

[NewNormalLife]

Dd's nursery is running Spanish and French language lessons which come at an additional cost. Her nursery is mixed age group 2-5 so children of these ages mix all day.

DD has extremely good English language currently. we don't speak any other languages at. home.

I've always thought it would be good to learn a second language at a young age but I'm
wondering if it will be a complete waste of money starting her this young?

It depends on how the lessons are done. As you’re paying extra it sounds like it will be separate sessions away from normal nursery activities. That’s not how 2 year olds learn so I wouldn’t do it.

So you speak Spanish or French? She's only likely to pick it up if it's backed up at home. A 2.5year old won't learn anything from 1-2hrs a week only.

My eldest had French lessons included in nursery price. To be honest it was just an activity like music (they also brought someone in for this). He liked nursery and he could sing a few French songs, but that was it.

Learning languages when you are young is brilliant, but you need to be immersed in it.

To be honest I imagine its maybe the sort of thing that would have been included in the prize, but costs of everything rising now they feel they have to charge.

I would be asking what he will do when the lesson is on if he doesn't do it?

It’s the perfect age to start learning.

The only lessons a 2yo might engage in will be singing nursery rhymes and possibly counting games in Spanish/French, they might pick up the odd word, but unless it's emersive for most the day they're not going to learn a language. Unless you plan to move on to more in depth lessons when they get older, and want to give them a head start, it will be a wast of time.

We are a bilingual household. The eldest also has a 90min class once per week taught by a native speaker.
We are currently on holiday in the country, visiting family.
Even with all this, it's hard work because English is so dominant.
I'd say don't by all means as a fun activity, bit don't expect her to be chatting away in another language any time soon!

If you can afford it why not? Their brains are a sponge at that age. I know someone whose nanny would sometimes speak spanish to her child and now the (still very young) child speaks it better than the parents.

Entirely up to you.
Late DH used to encourage ours to chat in French at home when they were toddlers, like a game! They were brilliant. Mostly lost now, sadly, we should have kept it up.

If you can easily afford it, and your DD enjoys the classes then I'd go with it, because why not? If it's too formal, your DD doesn't like it or it causes a financial stress then I wouldn't think it worth doing.

Can you comfortably afford it? I'd give it a go.

Thanks all. I checked and the lessons are only 30 minutes a week so I dont think she's likely to get much out of that. I speak basic French and my husband basic Spanish so I think we'll give it a go at home instead.

I think it's a great idea at that age.
While they may not pick up much or any vocabulary they will pick up the sound and rhythm of a language.
Both my DDs went to a Saturday Spanish club and they would come home singing familiar songs in Spanish.

They both went on to learn it at higher levels, DD1 having just graduated with a joint degree with Spanish.
You cannot ever replicate that opportunity for their minds they have at that age.
All experiences when they are young opens up opportunities as they grow

Possibly outing but I used to teach french and Spanish in nurseries. Half an hour a week was what they got. You would be astonished how much they pick up. Within a few months they will know dozens of words.
I also taught older children and the 2-4 year olds picked most quickly by far. Also unlike older children they aren’t shy or self conscious which helps an awful lot.

I wouldn't unless you are able to do it without any mistakes.