More Than Just Reading: Playful Ways to Learn with Your Bilingual Books

These bilingual “My First Kurdish Books” are designed to be much more than just stories you read once and then place back on the shelf. They are intended to be interactive tools, invitations to play with language, and springboards for ongoing learning and discovery, especially as your child grows and their curiosity blossoms. Creating this initial series of seven books, managing all aspects from content to design by myself, has been a huge learning experience, underscoring how many different skills are involved. It was challenging, but being well-organized was key. The core idea behind the books is to make the process of encountering new words in English and Kurmanji a fun, engaging, and shared family experience, rather than a formal, structured lesson.

Think of these books as colorful companions on your child’s language journey. When the moment feels right, and your child shows interest, here are a few simple and playful ways you can use them to encourage language learning:

1. Picture Exploration & Naming:

   • Settle down together and simply point to an interesting image on the page.

   • Gently ask, “Do you know what this is called in Kurmanji?” or “What’s the English word for this?”

   • Sometimes, the simplest interaction is best: just cover the words on the page with your hand and enjoy naming the picture together in whichever language comes to mind first, then reveal the words. This makes it feel like a gentle guessing game.

2. Fun “Find It” Games:

   • Choose a specific category from one of the books, like Animals or Foods.

   • You can say a word in one language (e.g., “Kûçik” in Kurmanji for dog) and invite your child to find the matching picture.

   • Alternatively, point to a picture and ask them to say the word in either English or Kurmanji, or both! Keep the atmosphere light and encouraging.

3. Embrace the Learning Journey Together:

   • It’s important to remember that the primary aim isn’t instant memorization or achieving “perfection” with every word, especially with young children.

   • The real value lies in the consistent, gentle exposure to both languages, the joy of hearing the words spoken, and the gradual process of saying and remembering them over time. Celebrate the effort, the trying, and the shared interaction.

4. Short, Sweet, and Often:

   • You don’t need to set aside long periods for dedicated “language lessons.” Young children often learn best in short, focused bursts that feel like play.

   • A few minutes spent looking at a couple of pages here and there – perhaps while waiting for dinner, during a quiet afternoon moment, or as part of the bedtime routine – can be incredibly effective. Sometimes, focusing on just one or two new words during a shared activity can be a perfect, low-pressure way to learn.

These books are intended to be like colorful building blocks for language. They offer a simple, visually appealing, and accessible way to introduce and reinforce vocabulary in both English and Kurmanji. As your child grows and their readiness to engage with new words expands, these pages will be there, ready to be explored and enjoyed together, fostering not just language skills but also a precious connection to their heritage and the beautiful Kurdish language.