Sharing my passion for Italy, and all things Italian, with the kids is really important to me. And being on holiday in Italy is a great chance to make teaching them more fun.

As regular readers of Empty Nest Mummy will know, we bought a little house in the Italian mountains a couple of years ago. And we come on holiday several times a year, including the full 6 weeks of UK summer holidays.

The house purchase was a bit of a whim. A rash moment that lasted a few months. But that will, hopefully, give us joy for years to come!

But now we intend to make full use of it. And give the kids the gift of an insight into a different culture. And the gift of a different language.

Although I studied Italian at school, and later at University, mine is now very rusty. And I’m guilty of being a bit hit and miss with teaching them Italian. Homework, chores and general life just seem to get in the way sometimes.

But when we are here, in Italy, it seems so much easier and so much more fun.

Teaching Italian at the Supermarket

The kids love going to the supermarket in Italy. I’m not sure if it’s the different produce that excites them, or all the attention they get. Five year old Littlest Angel, with her blonde hair and big blue eyes, gets a lot of attention wherever she goes. Even in the supermarket.

So the grocery shopping is a veritable treat in Italy.

And a great opportunity to sneak in some teaching.

I make the shopping trip into a game by telling them what we need next in Italian, and letting them find it.

They particularly love playing this in the fruit and veg aisle. I’ll tell them limoni, let them find the lemons and weigh them.

They now have a great vocabulary of fruit and veg, and food in general. And that’s essential if they’re to fit in here in Italy as the Italians do love food. And talking about it.

Teaching Italian at Restaurants

The bimbi love love love eating out. And, as the youngest one is still a little reluctant to try new things, Italy works well for her. There’s pizza or there’s pasta. All of it good.

Big Boy is really keen to try anything his dad eats, so is fast becoming a carnivore. He has given tagliata a big thumbs up, loving the meatiness of the cut steak topped with rocket and other greens.

He even tried sloppy, wobbly ossobucco the other evening. He declared that he loved the flavour of the veal shin but didn’t like the texture of the sloppy bone marrow. (Vegetarian Mum had to stifle a gag behind her hand)

But, whatever they choose at restaurants, we encourage them to order it in Italian. And then they take it in turns to ask for the bill. And, one day, who knows, perhaps they might even pay for it!

Teaching Italian with Word Games

I use the kids’ competitive nature when teaching them Italian. When we are on holiday, I give them quizzes as we pass things. Who knows the Italian for butterfly? Who knows what a campanile is? Who knows if cavallo is a boy word or a girl word?

On a wet Italian holiday day recently, we headed inside and the kids played a game matching the Italian word to the (poorly drawn) picture.

And, as they both love a word search, I made them one of my own. With Italian words.

And, before you berate me for being mean, let me assure you they love these games.

They love getting the words right, being told bravo or brava by the shopkeepers.

They have no idea that I am teaching them Italian. They think we are just playing games.

Holiday Playdates

The kids and I head to Italy for the full 6 week summer holiday. We are joined twice by Northern Husband and have a couple of guests over from the UK to join us for a few days.

But, the rest of the time, we are flying solo.

The village we are in is very small, with just a handful of kids. But we make sure that we do our best to make friends.

And I do my best to make sure we get some Italian teaching in.

Just two summers in, we have a couple of sets of local kids who come to hang out. One girl who comes on holiday with her family for 10 days in August comes every afternoon for a playdate. We play restaurants, football, swingball, do painting and crafts and go swimming. And, ssshhh, don’t tell the kids but we also learn Italian.

Our friend B doesn’t speak much English, but somehow, the three kids manage to play games together. And, because of the games they play, my kids now know passi a me (pass it to me), ladro (thief) and prigione (prison).

And they are very keen to learn more so they can go to the local pizzeria with their village friends when they are teenagers.

…we all need a goal to motivate us!

Italian Radio

We have, so far, managed to avoid the whole ipads in the car thing. And I intend to for as long as possible.

For as long as I’m in charge at the Dictatorship of Mum, we’ll be chatting , playing word games and having family sing-songs in the car.

…although I’m sure Northern Dad often wishes for ipads as a relief from our murdering Roar by Katy Perry yet again.

And when we’re in Italy, we normally listen to Italian radio. I don’t want to cause an international incident by making any comments on the quality of Italian ballads. But, whatever your thoughts on Italian music, it’s great if you’re teaching your kids Italian.

On our drive to the beach the other day, 5 year Littlest Angel picked out several words that she recognised.

Fratello meaning brother, occhi meaning eyes and amore meaning love.

I can only hope that she doesn’t pick up on the word my husband always understands. Cazzo. It’s the first Italian word I taught him!

But, rude words aside, listening to a foreign radio is a great way to learn the language.

And if there are some rude words?

Who gives a cazzo!

Are you teaching your kids another language? What tips and tricks do you use to keep them interested? Let us know in the Comments box.

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