Research has shown that Australian children want to learn First Nations words more than other, foreign languages. We have a few books with some Indigenous words but I knew I could do better to expose my children to our First Nations languages. 

Why should we introduce our children to First Nations Words and Languages?

• To acknowledge and raise awareness of First Nations Languages.
• To help strengthen and preserve the languages and to increase demand for language-specific resources.
• To help build connections between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities.
• To increase knowledge of and respect for First Nations People.
• To provide the cognitive benefits of learning multiple languages. May improve listening and literacy skills.
• To potentially spark a deeper interest in First Nations People and culture.
• To create an environment that supports the child's sense of place and belonging.  

How can we introduce First Nations languages to our preschoolers? These are a few things we've been exploring:

• Sing Songs in a First Nations Language - like Pitjantjatjara 1-2-3 (in Pitjantjatjara) or Inanay (in Yorta Yorta).
• Listen to podcasts for children that feature First Nations Languages like Little Yarns.
• Listen to Indigenous Lullabies.
• Follow early learning educators like Wurruck Yambo who share First Nations words.
• Watch children's television programs like Languages of Our Land, and Little J and Big Cuz.
• Discover and explore our local First Nations language. 
• Learn to say 'hello' in our local First Nations Language. 'Budyeri kamaru' means hello in the Gadigal language (in Gadigal Country where we live).

Pictured above, we are reading Karrkin My Body (in Mangala and English) by Maureen Yanawana and Main Abija My Grandad (in Kriol and English) by Karen Rogers, both bilingual children's picture books.

Professor Tom Calma, AO, from the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, said: “The findings show a genuine hunger from both parents and children themselves to be authentically taught more about the country’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages. Wouldn’t it be great if the local First Nations language for ‘hello’ rolled off our children’s tongues as easily as Bonjour or Ciao?”. There is a Know Your Country petition to sign to employ First Nations Cultural Educators in every Australian Primary School. 

Karrkin My Body is a lovely board book which isn't overwhelming, it features the Mangala and English words for parts of our body.

This is fun and engaging for young children. 

A longer bilingual book that we are also reading is Main Abija My Grandad. This is an autobiographical pictured book in Kriol and English. 

Wurruck Yambo regularly share First Nations words.

This is fun to watch with young children, I Am Australian with the beginning in Yawuru language. Please feel free to share your tips and suggestions for teaching young children First Nations words and languages.