When Daniela Palacios reached out to be on the podcast, I knew right away this was a conversation my listeners needed. Daniela is the founder and CEO of Para KIDS!, a bilingual children’s media company, and her story starts the same way a lot of ours do — as the older sibling carrying a quiet sense of responsibility for everyone else in the family.
Daniela moved to the US at eight years old and was enrolled in ESL classes. That experience gave her a front-row seat to the power — and the difficulty — of learning a new language. But it was watching her younger brother, who was born in the US and struggled with Spanish instead of English, that changed everything. He was becoming what a lot of people online jokingly call a “no sabo kid.” Daniela didn’t see it as a joke. She saw it affecting his confidence, his sense of belonging, and his connection to their family. So she did something about it — and Para KIDS! was born.
One of the parts of our conversation that stuck with me most was when I asked Daniela what she tells moms who feel like their own Spanish “isn’t good enough” to raise a bilingual child. Her answer wasn’t about grammar or fluency. It was about mindset. She talked about the importance of giving yourself grace first, because that patience is what your child will feel and mirror back. Bilingual learning, she reminded me, isn’t something that ends in grammar school or even college — it’s a lifelong journey, and it’s supposed to be one you enjoy, not survive.
We also got into what she calls “bilingual joy” — her term for making language learning feel like play instead of pressure. She shared a simple, beautiful example: taking her brother to a mercado or a tienda and encouraging him to order in Spanish, without correcting every mistake, just letting him build confidence first. That idea — that correction can come later, but confidence has to come first — is something I think a lot of us needed to hear.
Daniela also opened up about something that doesn’t get talked about enough: parents who can’t read to their kids in English because they never learned it themselves, and how that gap can create real tension in the home. It’s part of why she’s so committed to fully dual-language books — no Google Translate needed, no parent left out of story time.
By the end of our conversation, Daniela left listeners with this: this journey doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be intentional. And when it is, it blossoms.
If you’ve ever doubted whether your Spanish, your effort, or your approach is “enough” — this episode is for you.
Show Notes
In this episode, I sit down with Daniela Palacios, founder and CEO of Para KIDS!, a bilingual children’s media company helping families raise kids who are proud of both their languages and their cultures. Daniela’s journey started as an older sister watching her younger brother struggle to speak Spanish — and it turned into a mission to make sure no kid grows up feeling disconnected from their language or their culture. We talk about what it really means to raise a bilingual child with love, play, and practical tools, and why giving yourself grace matters just as much as giving your child the right resources.
What you’ll hear:
〰 Daniela’s story as an ESL student and older sister, and how watching her brother struggle with Spanish shaped Para KIDS!
〰 Why “bilingual joy” matters more than perfect grammar or a strict timeline
〰 Practical, everyday ways to bring language and culture into your household (without turning it into a chore)
〰 What to say to yourself when you feel like your own Spanish “isn’t good enough” to teach your kids
〰 Why bilingual books are changing the game for families where one parent doesn’t read in English — or in Spanish
Resources Mentioned:
〰 Para KIDS! website — parakidsbooks.com
〰 Instagram — @parakidsbooks
〰 Sara’s New Country and New Friend / El nuevo país y la nueva amiga de Sara — available on Amazon
〰 Email: hello@parakidsbooks.com
About Our Guest
Daniela Palacios | Founder of Para KIDS!
Daniela Palacios is the Founder & CEO of Para KIDS!, a bilingual children’s media company helping families raise kids who are proud of both their languages and their cultures. Her own journey, from an ESL student who watched her younger brother struggle to speak Spanish, to a Columbia University graduate, is the heart behind everything she builds. Daniela has been featured on Telemundo 47 and New Jersey Family. She partners with K-12 schools, foundations, and brands to bring bilingual joy to all kids and their families through custom tools and experiences. Today, she’s here to talk about what it really takes to raise bilingual kids with love, play, and practical tools.
