Transmission Tips

  • Make the decision to introduce Welsh to your baby, before he or she is born. 
  • Use the Welsh language with your baby right from the start. Even if you aren’t fluent, use what you can. 
  • Watch S4C, there is a variety of Welsh language programmes that appeal to all ages. There is a children’s service called CYW, STWNSH for young people, and plenty of programmes for adults in the evenings.
  • Watch Welsh DVDs  –  a large selection can be found and borrowed for free from your local library.
  • Download Welsh medium apps onto your iPad or mobile phone – there are many children’s games now available. S4C have a variety of apps for children and young people. 
  • Read Welsh books with your baby. A number of bilingual books are now available to help parents who aren’t fluent in Welsh. A wide selection of Welsh books can be found in the library or your local Welsh book shop. 
  • Choose Welsh medium child care where possible.
  • Visit your local Cylch Ti a Fi (Welsh medium mother and toddler groups). A great opportunity to socialise and hear other families use the Welsh language. 
  • Listen to Welsh CDs in the car and in your home.
  • Sing in Welsh. You will pick up Welsh nursery rhymes and simple songs at your local Ti a Fi, or by listening to children’s CDs. 
  • Play Welsh games – Welsh is fun! Welsh language games and jigsaws can be purchased in your local Welsh shop or online.  Use your imagination and play games such as “I spy” in Welsh. 
  • Attend Welsh medium events in your area. TWF, the Urdd and the local Welsh Language Initiative - Menter Iaith organise all sorts of activities for babies, children, young people and families through the medium of Welsh. 
  • If neither you nor your partner speaks Welsh, then having a child is a golden opportunity to start learning Welsh with your child. The Welsh Centre For Adults has information on all sorts of courses in your area. Some family lessons and other courses even provide crèche facilities. 
  • It’s important for your child to see that the Welsh language exists outside of school, so attend and support Welsh medium events in your community. 
  • Be a good example and show your child that the Welsh language is important to you by joining a local Welsh society or choir. A number of mums join Clybiau Gwawr in order to build their confidence to use the Welsh language socially, and to have fun! 
  • If you want to introduce more Welsh into your home life, how about choosing a specific time or place to use Welsh, e.g. speak Welsh at bath time, or read Welsh books at bed time, or play Welsh games as your travel in the car. 
  • Encourage friends, neighbours and members of your extended family who can speak Welsh to do so with your child. 
  • If you have a bilingual household, a number of families across the world successfully use the ‘One parent, one language’ strategy, whereby one parent speaks one language with the child while the other parent uses another language. Children in these environments grow up to be confident and fluent in both languages. 
  • If one member of the family already has some Welsh, you have a head start. Even if your Welsh is a bit rusty, putting it into use with a young child is a good way to get started again, to build confidence and lose inhibitions. 
  • Stick to your guns and continue to use Welsh with your child, even if they answer you in English for a while. Hearing you use Welsh helps with their language development.