English-speaking playmates for toddlers

Hello,

I am a German mother, who would like to let her kids grow up as bilingual as it is possible with two German parants in Germany. My daughter (4 y) learns English in a course and I also do speak English with her. My son (17 months) is still too young to speak and he will anyway go to an English speaking daymother. Our only problem is that the kids dont`t have English speaking friends until now. And it is difficult to get used to a language if you don`t need to speak it. So I am looking for playmates to put the kids together. And (if you like) also parents who would like to exchange language knowledge.
We live in Thalkirchen near the zoo and would be happy if someone is interested in meeting us.

Is she doing the Helen Doron course?

Have you heard of Sticky Fingers? It's an English speaking baby/mommy play center. Here is the link for more info: www.stickyfingers.de

Hello,

yes, she goes to a Helen Doron course since she is 3 y. And she also did two intensiv courses in spring and in summer (half day one week). So she is used to be around English speaking groups. But I would like to find English playmates for her so that she needs to use her English outside the courses. (Well anyway the kids decide at the end if they get along with each other or not. I would just like to try it). Because when I speak English with her she tends to answer in German (I think that is the problem every bilingual kid has, if there are no playmates around that speak the second language).

Chrissi, My (nearly) 4 year old son speaks German to me and he never hears anything but English from me and spent half his life in Canada. So don't expect too much from them. Even a lot of native speakers can't get the kids to speak to them in English.

I know a few mothers here who's kids answer them in German, or tried to, mine tried once as well. You really have to be strict and only speak one language with them and not respond properly when they speak the "other" language.
Having peers who speak the "second" or "other" language will certainly encourage it - though mine didn't for a long time, and still have mainly German friends, and are fluent in both.
Good luck (mine are too old to help out)

Hello,

thanks for the encouragement. I also will check stickyfingers. But anyway I would be happy if anyone would like to meet us. It is simply the best way if the kids talk to each other. It will be easier for our son as there are only English speaking kids at his daymother and he will have to speak English. But our daughter only needs to speak in the courses (even if I try to speak to her as much as possible, but I am also the one who reads German books with her. And: As I am German my English may not be bad but it ist far from being perfect) and when we visit friends in another country (for example: we spent a week in Ireland this spring and there she started to play with the kids there without problems).

My daughter and I would like to meet nice people for playtime and tea. We recently returned to Munich after several years away and live at Boehmerwaldplatz (U4) near Arabella Park. We have a good amount of indoor and garden space for toddling around and would also be interested in meeting up in other areas of Munich. My husband is British and I am American, so English is our family's first language, but we are also happy to speak German to anyone willing to suffer our accents.

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Myrlia check this link. This German lady is looking for some English speaking playmates for her children. Her English is clearly of an exceptional standard.
English-speaking playmates for toddlers

HI Chrissi
I see that someone sent you a link to Sticky Fingers. I am Lara Kroll, owner of the play center and they sent you the wrong Web link.

If you would like to view the Sticky Fingers website, please visit http://www.stickyfingers-munich.com and if you would like a free trial session with you children please contact me and I will be delighted to speak to you.

Thanks Lara Kroll