One of the main questions parents ask is how do they maintain some level of Gaelic in the home.  Iomairt Ghàidhlig Loch Abair works with various organisations to help parents access language classes and resources for use at home. Clearly the best way to help your child use Gaelic is to learn Gaelic yourself. We recognise this is a big commitment.  If you speak Gaelic then speak it in the home.

Pàrant ‘s Pàiste Groups

This is an opportunity for the non-Gaelic speaking parent to learn a little Gaelic at the same time as the child, i.e. the father could learn Gaelic by listening to the mother speaking to the child. You can read with the child and using simple vocabulary in the early years. By reading simple stories, singing Gaelic nursery rhymes and using Gaelic at certain times of day – at breakfast, or bedtime for example – the child will get used to hearing the language at home and the parent who’s learning Gaelic will become more comfortable speaking it.

An Cearcall, Ath Tharracail, Wednesdays 9.30 – 11.30, Acharacle Resource Centre

Casan Beaga, Acharacle, Fridays 10 – 12, St Mary’s Church Hall, Glencoe

Rionnagan Beaga a’ Bhraighe, Friday 10.15 – 11.30, Taigh na Sgoile, Roy Bridge

Opportunities for parents to learn Gaelic in Lochaber

Ùlpan classes where parents receive a 50% discount on this advanced Gaelic learning method

Resources for Parents 
  • There is a Book and Toy Library in Fort William Library
Other parents are also a great source of support and the viability of Gaelic early years groups is increased by regular attendance.

In nearly all bilingual families, children end up mixing up the languages, especially in the early days. This is nothing to worry about and will sort itself out quite naturally.

The child will probably use the language which is stronger in the family. The Gaelic speaking parent will need a lot of support and determination to carry on using Gaelic

You can also do the following to encourage your child’s use of Gaelic:

  • Attend the local pàrant ‘s pàiste groups, croileagain, sgoiltean-araich and other groups which use Gaelic
  • Sing Gaelic rhymes
  • Read Gaelic books
  • Watch Gaelic programmes on BBC Alba and listen to Radio nan Gàidheal
  • Encourage the extended family, friends and neighbours to use Gaelic with your child at every available opportunity