Parent Guide: Using Bilingual Affirmation Cards at Home

Helping Children Grow in Language, Identity, and Emotional Strength

These affirmation cards are more than words—they’re tools for building confidence, emotional awareness, and bilingual fluency. Whether your child is just beginning Spanish or already learning in school, this guide will help you make the most of each card.

Why Affirmations Matter

Affirmations help children:

Develop emotional vocabulary in both English and Spanish
Build self-esteem and resilience
Practice language in meaningful, everyday contexts
Feel safe expressing their thoughts and feelings

When paired with Spanish learning, affirmations become a bridge between language and identity.

How to Use the Cards

1. Morning Routine
Choose one card each morning. Read it aloud in English and Spanish. Ask your child:

“What does this word mean to you?”
“When have you felt this way?”

2. Emotional Check-In
Use the cards during transitions (before school, after homework, bedtime). Let your child pick a card that matches how they feel—or how they want to feel.

3. Language Practice
Repeat the Spanish word throughout the day. Use it in a sentence, write it on a sticky note, or add it to your Family Word Wall.

4. Creative Extension
Invite your child to draw a picture that matches the affirmation. For example: “I am brave” → draw a moment when they tried something new.

5. Family Conversation Starter
Use the prompt on each card to spark deeper conversations. Share your own examples to model vulnerability and growth.

Sample Dialogue

Card: “I am proud of who I am.” / “Estoy orgulloso/a de quién soy.”

Parent:
“Let’s say this together. What’s something you did this week that makes you feel proud?”
Child:
“II helped my friend when she was sad.”
Parent:
“That’s beautiful. You showed kindness and courage. Let’s write that down and put it on our Word Wall.”

Tips for Monolingual Parents

Don’t worry about perfect pronunciation—modeling effort builds trust.
Use online audio tools or apps to hear the Spanish words together.
Let your child teach you! It builds confidence and ownership.

Bonus Ideas

Create a “Feelings Corner” with the cards, crayons, and a mirror for self-reflection.
Use cards during tutoring sessions or homeschool time to reinforce vocabulary.
Pair each card with a Bible verse, story, or song that reflects the theme.

Want More?

Explore our full set of bilingual resources at www.myothertongue.com
Download our free e-book: “Aaliyah es una chica especial”
Follow us on Instagram for weekly tips and printables: @myothertongue

Let’s raise bilingual kids who are emotionally strong, spiritually grounded, and proud of who they are—through story, strategy, and soul.

Warmly,
Lisa Renea Shaw
Founder & Instructor, My Other Tongue Language School

Comments

A Message to Parents: Why Your 4th Grader Deserves a Strong Start This Semester

A Message to Parents: Why Your 4th Grader Deserves a Strong Start This Semester There is so much going on in the world of education and student achievement. If I weren't an educator, I would find it difficult to truly unpack how my child is being measured in terms of achievement. I would also find it difficult to truly understand how I could personally support his growth as a reader, a writer and a mathematician. Having a point of reference, example of sample performance and a resource is important. Point of Reference If you live in Georgia and your third grade child attended a public school last year, are may be aware of a test called the Georgia Milestones Assessment. This test measured your child's performance in the area of Reading, ELA and Math. According to the Georgia Department of Education, over 127,234 third graders were tested in the 2024–2025 school year. Of those: 35.4% were below grade level in reading - having a reading lexile score of lesson than 520 O...

Why I Built My Other Tongue—and What It Offers Your Family

Why I Built My Other Tongue—and What It Offers Your Family When I launched My Other Tongue Language School , I wasn’t just creating a place to teach Spanish. My intent was to build a community of learners- a supportive, immersive space where students could become confident speakers of the Spanish language. As a multilingual educator, curriculum designer, and children’s author, I’ve spent years helping students understand how to access the tools they need to communicate in Spanish with confidence and clarity. I’ve experienced the joy of seeing wonderful connections being made between people with linguistic and cultural differences. I've witness firsthand how language can empower a child to speak up, connect deeply, and feel proud of who they are. That’s why My Other Tongue exists—to make bilingual learning accessible, meaningful, and rooted in purpose. What We Offer at MyOtherTongue.com Our programs are designed for families who want more than worksheets and flashcards....

Welcome to Lisa Renea Shaw's Blog!!

Welcome to Lisa Renea Shaw's Blog!! I’m so glad you’re here. This space is more than a blog—it’s a home for the stories, strategies, and resources I’ve created to help families, educators, and communities grow with purpose. Whether you’re raising bilingual learners, designing curriculum, or searching for faith-rooted tools that speak to the heart, you’ll find something here that meets you where you are. At the center of it all is MOT — My Other Tongue , My Other Thoughts , and My Other Talents —three branches of one mission: to make learning joyful, inclusive, and deeply connected. My Other Tongue This is where language comes alive. Here, I share bilingual literacy strategies, ACTFL and CEFR standards-based Spanish instruction, and K–5 Math and ELA tutoring resources aligned with Georgia Milestones. You’ll find stories, activities, and tools that nurture identity, empathy, and academic growth—one word at a time. My Other Thoughts This is your educator’s...

Lisa Renea Shaw

Search This Blog