Spanish · A1 · Family moment
Our Reading Break in Spanish
This guide helps parents use gentle Spanish to create a cozy reading environment. Focus on making suggestions and giving soft instructions to help your child feel comfortable during practice.
What you'll learn
- Learn to use 'Vamos a' to suggest activities together.
- Practice using soft imperatives with 'por favor'.
- Identify basic reading-related vocabulary in Spanish.
Spanish phrases for our reading break
Vamos a elegir un libro.
Let's choose a book.
'Elegir' means 'to choose'.
Vamos a sentarnos aquí.
Let's sit here.
'Aquí' means 'here'.
Vamos a leer juntos.
Let's read together.
'Juntos' is used when doing an activity with someone else.
Vamos a tomar un descanso.
Let's take a break.
'Descanso' means rest or break.
Abre el libro, por favor.
Open the book, please.
'Abre' is the command form of 'abrir' (to open).
Lee despacio, por favor.
Read slowly, please.
'Despacio' is a great word for encouraging patience.
Inténtalo de nuevo, por favor.
Try again, please.
'Inténtalo' means 'try it'.
Escucha, por favor.
Listen, please.
'Escucha' comes from 'escuchar' (to listen).
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Libro
Book
Masculine noun, used with 'el' or 'un'.
Despacio
Slowly
Used to describe the pace of an action.
Juntos
Together
Change to 'juntas' if only females are involved.
Descanso
Break / Rest
Commonly used in school and learning contexts.
Using 'Let's' (Vamos a)
In Spanish, the easiest way to say 'Let's [do something]' is by using 'Vamos a' followed by the action (infinitive).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Let's read | Vamos a + leer | Vamos a leer. |
| Let's choose | Vamos a + elegir | Vamos a elegir. |
Soft Imperatives
To give gentle instructions to a child, use the informal 'tú' command form and always add 'por favor' to keep it polite and soft.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Abre | Abre el libro. |
| Read | Lee | Lee conmigo. |
More examples
¡Muy bien! Vamos a tomar un descanso.
Very good! Let's take a break.
Encouragement mixed with a suggestion.
Lee despacio, por favor. No hay prisa.
Read slowly, please. There is no rush.
Helps lower anxiety during practice.