Spanish · C1 · Family moment
Tiny Ways of Doing It Yourself in Spanish
This guide focuses on acknowledging your child's emerging independence. In Spanish, we can use restrictive clauses to specify exactly 'in what sense' a statement is true, allowing you to celebrate their contribution while acknowledging the support you still provide.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of 'en la medida en que' and 'en el sentido de que' to specify restrictions.
- Practice naming specific motor actions (lifting, pushing, resting).
- Reinforce the use of the present continuous to describe ongoing cooperative actions.
Spanish phrases for tiny ways of doing it yourself
Te estás alimentando solo en el sentido de que estás guiando la cuchara; yo sigo sosteniendo tu mano.
You're feeding yourself in the sense that you're guiding the spoon; I'm still supporting your hand.
Uses 'en el sentido de que' to limit the scope of 'feeding yourself'.
Estás ayudando con el cambio de pañal en la medida en que levantas el culito por mí.
You're helping with your nappy change in the sense that you're lifting your bottom for me.
'Culito' is a common, gentle term for a toddler's bottom.
Estás eligiendo nuestro libro en el sentido de que te estás acercando al que quieres.
You're choosing our book in the sense that you're reaching towards the one you want.
'Acercarse' captures the motion of reaching toward something.
Me estás ayudando a vestirte en la medida en que metes el brazo en la manga.
You're helping me dress you in the sense that you're pushing your arm into the sleeve.
'Meter' is the natural verb for pushing/placing something inside something else.
Te estás lavando solo en el sentido de que te estás frotando la toallita por la barriga.
You're washing yourself in the sense that you're rubbing the flannel over your tummy.
'Toallita' is used here for a washcloth or flannel.
Me estás diciendo lo que quieres en la medida en que señalas tu taza.
You're telling me what you want in the sense that you're pointing towards your cup.
'Señalar' is the specific verb for pointing.
Te estás preparando para la siesta en el sentido de que apoyas la cabeza en mi hombro.
You're getting ready for your nap in the sense that you're resting your head on my shoulder.
'Apoyar' means to rest or lean something against a surface.
Te estás uniendo a nuestra pequeña charla en el sentido de que respondes a mi voz con tus sonidos.
You're joining our little conversation in the sense that you're answering my voice with your sounds.
Uses 'unirse' for joining an activity.
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
En la medida en que
In the sense that / To the extent that
A formal but common way to restrict a statement to a specific degree.
En el sentido de que
In the sense that
Used to clarify the specific interpretation of a preceding claim.
Sostener
To support / To hold up
Used here for the parent physically supporting the child's weight or movement.
Apoyar
To rest / To lean
Commonly used for placing a body part against someone else for comfort.
Restrictive Specification (Insofern / En la medida en que)
While German uses 'insofern, als' for restrictive specification, Spanish uses phrases like 'en la medida en que' or 'en el sentido de que'. These phrases limit the validity of your statement to the specific action the child is doing. Note that unlike the German subordinate clause which requires final word order, Spanish maintains standard SVO order after the connector.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Restrictive Phrase | [Statement] + en la medida en que + [Specific Action] | Ayudas en la medida en que te quedas quieto. |
| Qualitative Phrase | [Statement] + en el sentido de que + [Specific Action] | Lees en el sentido de que pasas las páginas. |
More examples
Eres independiente en el sentido de que intentas ponerte los zapatos.
You are independent in the sense that you are trying to put on your shoes.
Clarifying that the attempt itself constitutes independence.
Estamos cocinando juntos en la medida en que tú remueves la masa.
We are cooking together in the sense that you are stirring the dough.
Specifying the child's specific role in a joint task.