1. Take the artistic approach.
Words and art have so intertwined that people go back and forth trying to make personifications and metaphors out of the two (like, 'a picture paints a thousand words', or 'a picture is a poem without words', etc).
Take the artistic approach. Source: Pixabay
A creative way to take on this intertwining is to utilise art to teach your child new words. Aside from simply teaching him the Filipino counterpart of 'blue' ('bughaw'), 'yellow' ('dilaw') or 'beige' ('murang kape'; because apparently cheap, watered-down coffee is literally beige), you can teach your child words and phrases based on the subject he decides to colour-in or draw.
2. Filipino in action.
While 'Simon Says' is one of those games that will make the rebel in you want to stop and say 'you're not the boss of me!', it can be an effective and fun way to teach your child Filipino verbs, such as 'talon', 'tawa', 'sayaw', and others. You can even opt to translate 'Simon Says' to 'Sabi ni Simon' if you want the game to be more Pinoy.
Simon says, "Talon!" Source: Getty Images
And who knows - it might even be an effective way to get your child to do chores.
3. Read stories in Filipino.
There are tons of Filipino children's books out there that you can read to your child; problem is you either have no access to them or, the stories and themes simply aren't relatable to your Aussie-Aussie-Aussie-Oi-Oi-Oi-chanting child.
Read to your child in Filipino. Source: mentatdgt from Pexels
If the Filipino books available aren't what you are looking for, you might need to put in a bit of effort when it comes to narrating English stories in Filipino or at least translating some important words to Filipino for your child.
4. Sing Filipino songs.
When words are put into song, they're easier to remember.
"Ang gulong ng bus ay umiikot..." Source: Pixabay
In as much as speaking and reading in Filipino will expose your child to the language, singing helps them retain words much more easily.
You can sing English songs with them that have been translated to Filipino so that the tunes are recognisable, such as 'Happy Birthday to You' ('Maligayang Bati') or 'Baby Shark' ('Sanggol na Pating'; yep, we went there). You can also opt to teach them original Filipino songs.
5. Label things.
Succumb to your need to label everything and teach your child Filipino at the same time.
Label things around the house in Filipino. Source: rawpixel.com from Pexels
Not only will your home seem more organised, your child will know the spelling and meaning of the words 'harina' ('flour) and 'tuyo' ('the dried fish that mum loves but makes the house smell').
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