There’s an app for that…

“Mama, can I please use your phone??? Please??!!!!”

How many times a day do you hear that one?  With today’s smartphones blurring the line between utility and entertainment- at least once a day?  5 times?  Constantly?  Kids love to tinker with our phones.  Heck- so do we!  So make use of playtime or downtime with a few good foreign language apps for your Iphone, IPad,  Android Phone, or other app-based device.  

• *Living Language offers  text and audiobook lessons in  French, Italian, and Spanish ($9.99, IPhone)
• *Byki – common phrases (and  quizzes) in over 40 languages (per language, $7.99 IPhone/$9.99 Android)
• TeachersParadise.com offers number flashcards 0-10 and Alphabet FlashCards in both French and Spanish.  The child hears the word for the number as the images appear on the screen, but the app also features a "quiz mode," where the child can guess the correct word and then tap the screen to hear the answer (Android based apps, FREE) 
• Applications-enfants.com  features an Animal Alphabet app that is full of games, puzzles and activities to teach reading and writing, including the alphabet and animal names.  It is available in French & English only.  Cute graphics and music (though it can be irritating if left on too long), creative and fun activities that advance as your child gains practice make this among my favorite bilingual kids apps.  (Android based, FREE)
• For Spanish fun, try Early App's PrimerasPalabrasLite- colorful, animated graphics teach colors and other  basic words.  Warning: this one is a bit on the loud side, so keep your volume down.  I also find the talent's voice a little disconcerting, but that is just a matter of preference I guess! (Android based, Free or a pay version is available for about $1 with more advanced features)

This is just a short list and maybe you know of others?  Leave comments &  share other good apps I’ve missed.

-Consuelo Bova, 

CEO of SmartMouthLearning.com

*The apps with a "*" are tailored to adults and are a great language referesher if you need it.  The flashcard and quiz based apps should be perfectly safe for kids, but I have not personally reviewed the contents of all of them, so please preview these apps before letting them loose on your impressionable kiddos and make sure you are comfortable with all content!  Thanks! -Connie

A Mom by any other name ...

In our house, Mother’s and Grandmothers are called by many names.  Abuela.  Nonna.  Nana. ‘Boo (from the Polish Babcia or Busha).  My family is from South America, just one generation back- so “Abuela” is natural and normal for us.  But for many, like my husband, whose family is Polish and Irish but only several  generations ago, the language or other cultural traditions have long since faded away, but the original, native-language name for “Mom” or “Grandma” is still very much a part of their family tradition.  In fact, they are among the very first words learned by our children, right?  Mama. Grandma.  

I was thinking about all of this as I sent off my Mother’s Day cards this year (I even found a few that  used our special names- Score!) and began to wonder about Mother’s Day around the world.  Loving and honoring your Mother is universal- but does everyone have a “holiday” around it? 

I learned that while many cultures and religions celebrated Mothers in some way during the calendar year long before the US- such as Roman Catholic celebrations of the Virgin Mary or the Hindu tradition of “Mata Tirtha Aunshi" or "Mother Pilgrimage fortnight"- the carnations and greeting card holiday as we know it is an American invention, aspects of which have has in fact steadily been adopted around the world.  But nonetheless, some countries do retain their own unique traditions or even celebrate the holiday similarly, but for a slew of different reasons…

Bolivia- celebrated on May 27 each year since 1927, Dia de la Madre Boliviana commemorates women who fought during the Bolivian War of Independence in 1812. 

China- Mother’s Day is becoming increasingly popular with Carnations being the main “gift” offered to Mom’s.  In recent years, community groups and scholars have been trying to change this tradition to Lillies, a flower with some historical Chinese context (unlike the Western Carnation).  Since ’97, there has also been a push to make this a day of charity, remembering and coming to the aid of impoverished Mothers and families. 

Indonesia- Celebrated in December, Mother’s Day or Hari Ibu  is the day of the first Indonesian Women Congress, celebrating women’s independence and spirit and hoping to improve their condition.  Today, the celebration involves gift-giving, flowers and other expressions of gratitude (surprise parties and fun competitions) or offering Mom a day with no chores

Sweden: The Swedes have only celebrated the holiday in significant numbers since the 70s and celebrate on the last Sunday in May.  Why the late date?  To ensure it would be warm enough to go outside and pick flowers!

Thailand:  Mother’s day has been celebrated only since the mid 80’s as a type of PR campaign for the Royal Family, so it is celebrated on August 12^th, the Queen’s birthday.

Malta:  First celebration of the date happened in 1961 but it has since become one of the most popular dates in the Maltese calendar, celebrated on the second Sunday in May with gifts or lunch “someplace nice!”

Pakistan:  Mom’s are honored by the giving of gifts and those who have lost  their Moms make an extra effort to remember their loved one and pay their respects.

United Kingdom and Ireland:  Before modern “Mother’s Day” celebrations, there was “Mothering Sunday” (the fourth Sunday of lent- a religious event originating in the 16^th century).  US Soldiers brought the modern tradition over during WWII and the two holiday traditions were “merged” so to speak, with a big push of support from UK merchants who saw a great commercial opportunity in the new holiday. But many mothering Sunday traditions do remain even today, such as serving Mom a cake

So, it seems that though the “purpose” or history of the holiday may vary, the modern day celebration rests on the same idea- that we love our Moms and want to shower them with gifts, food or other shows of gratitude. 

So what did you do on Mother’s Day?  Does your family have any special traditions you’d like to share? What are your families' word for Mom and Grandma?  Please share with us by leaving your comments below!  

I do hope you enjoyed your own Mother’s Day and showered the Moms in your world with love, because I think we can all agree that Moms- by any name- are amazing!  

-Consuelo Bova, CEO of SmartMouthLearning.com

Here I am with my own 2 lovebugs celebrating Mother's Day 2011 with a picnic- it was such a fun afternoon that this may well become a tradition at Casa Bova!  -Connie