How to Learn Tagalog with Your Child: A Beginner's Guide

If you want your child to learn Tagalog/Filipino, my biggest piece of advice is to start building their vocabulary early. This is also a great time for you as well to start building your vocabulary. But you gotta start asap and not put it off because the ages of 4 to 6 are a pretty crucial window for language development. It’s when a child’s brain synapses are mapping out language patterns and retaining the most information.

I know this from personal experience. I spent a year in the Philippines between the ages of four and five. When I returned to the US, I didn't actively speak Tagalog anymore, but I carried the vocabulary of a five-year-old with me. Because I had that early foundation, the language stuck with me. Growing up in the States, I was always surrounded by family members who spoke a mix of Tagalog, Bisaya, and Bicolano. Even though I wasn't speaking it daily, my brain knew what the words were.

 

When I moved back to the Philippines full-time in 2008, that early childhood vocabulary made a huge difference. What pushed me over the finish line of becoming conversational was consuming Tagalog media and, specifically, learning how to read. Seeing and reading the words versus just hearing them gave me a better understanding of the language. 

Because reading and hearing words were such a game-changer for me, and my early vocabulary was the foundation, I highly recommend introducing bilingual books and reading aloud with your child during those crucial early years. Here are the bilingual English-Tagalog books that I thoroughly enjoyed reading with my kid. I also included some cool media for you to brush up on your language skills too!

 

This is the best place to start My First Book of Tagalog Words. It blends playful ABC rhymes with illustrations. This bilingual book teaches essential Filipino vocabulary and cultural values, making early language easy to start with.

 

Bring the rhythm of Filipino culture home with the Bahay Kubo Board Book. This award-winning book turns the classic folk song into a vibrant, toddler-friendly Tagalog language tool. With whimsical illustrations, it makes learning vocabulary and celebrating heritage effortless and fun!

 

 

 

Dive into Philippine folklore with The Amazing Beasts of Philippine Mythology. Featuring side-by-side English and Filipino text, this stunningly illustrated bilingual book makes mastering the language effortless and fun while exploring thrilling cultural legends. It is the ultimate spooky, educational toolkit!

 

Bring the rhythm of the Philippines home with the Leron Leron Sinta Board Book. This durable, toddler-friendly book breathes new life into the beloved traditional folk song. Paired with playful, modern illustrations, it makes early language exposure and heritage learning completely effortless and fun for little hands!

 

Instill the beautiful value of gratitude with Salamat Po!. Written by Russell Molina with vibrant art by Dominic Agsaway, this durable toddler board book makes learning Tagalog manners completely effortless, fun, and deeply connected to Filipino heritage!

 

Keep language and culture alive with Filipino Folktales for Children. This stunning hardcover features side-by-side English and Tagalog text alongside free online audio, making bilingual learning effortless. It’s the perfect, beautifully illustrated way to pass down timeless cultural wisdom!

 

 

Kickstart your child's heritage journey with Ang Una Kong Alpabeto. This durable bilingual board book pairs letters with foundational Filipino words and bold illustrations, making early vocabulary building and language learning completely effortless for little hands!

 

For the Grown-Ups: Trese on Netflix

If you want something to help brush up your own vocabulary after the kids go to bed, I highly recommend watching Trese in Tagalog. Watching the English version is kinda cringey. The English voice actors are trying a little too hard with the Filipino accents. 

Just a heads-up: this one is definitely not for the kiddos due to the mature themes and violence. While I still love the original Trese komiks so much more, the Netflix animated adaptation does a decent job of building the lore while spreading Filipino culture and mythology.