Grocery and Vocabulary

Many times People when listen to Yahya speaking Urdu and English both, They ask us How does he do it? Or what are the resources do we use to make him speak both languages ? For most of the people living outside their countries, the biggest challenge is to make their kids speak their native language. The answer is “nothing special”. Unfortunately, there is not much quality content available for kids in Urdu in video form except few programs like our Family favourite “Sim Sim Hamara” or “Jaan” cartoon. Books are one of the resources which we read together and try to translate and juggle with words to make him understand both languages. Other then that it’s just us 🙂, We and our time, We talk and make him talk. Believe it or not but it’s today’s biggest challenge that we actually find it difficult to talk and communicate with each other especially with our kids. Technology played a major role in that but when it comes to communicating with kids, many of us find it boring or don’t feel like doing a silly baby talk thinking ab in sey kia Baat karain? (what will I talk to them?).It is scientifically proved that Whatever kids hear from their surroundings from a very early stage or even when they are in their mother’s womb It feeds inside their brain and when they start to speak it eventually comes out. English is in the air, they listen to it everywhere, in all their favourite cartoons and shows, From their siblings or during shopping so automatically they have bigger word Bank of English as compared to any other language and they feel comfortable to use that vocab stock instead of pushing their brains to think and speak in some other language.
Grocery shopping is one of the best times during which I feel I can help him a lot to fill his Urdu vocabulary bank because of the variety of stuff present around. Fruits and Vegetables, Their colors and taste, Dishes we cook with them, His favourite things, Different sizes and shapes, Likes and dislikes etc. While filling the cart You can talk about all these things and involve your child in conversation. Kids definitely feel excited and they always have stories to add. I admit I feel really happy when we talk about something and he connects it in urdu, Like while checking Timatar he started to sing

ت سے ترازو کھولو
ٹ سے ٹماٹر تولو

( “Te sey tarazoo kholoo ,TTe sey Timatar Tolo” from his Gungunata Qaida,for those wondering link is added at the bottom).
Yes these little conversations really work and during those talks on public places if someone one around you give a silly look and think you are crazy, ignore them as you are really doing a great job 🥰
Gungunata Qaida link