Moving to Barcelona with your family? One of the most charming and effective ways to immerse your children in Catalan culture is through music. As an expat parent in Barcelona, I’ve discovered that local children’s songs not only help with language acquisition but also create a sense of belonging in your new home. Today, I’m sharing why Bon Dia by beloved Catalan children’s musician Dàmaris Gelabert should be part of your family’s morning routine.
Why Bon Dia Matters for Expat Families
Bon Dia (which means “Good Morning” in Catalan) is perhaps Gelabert’s most iconic song and is the morning circle song for the majority of Catalan schools. Here’s why it’s particularly valuable for international families:
1. Daily Language Practice
The song introduces basic Catalan greetings and phrases in a catchy, repetitive format that’s perfect for language learners of all ages. Starting your day with Bon Dia gives your entire family a moment of Catalan language practice that’s fun rather than forced.
2. Cultural Connection
When your child starts humming Bon Dia at the playground or in their stroller, local children and adults alike immediately recognize it. This creates instant connections and conversation starters in your new community.
3. School Preparation
Most public Barcelona schools incorporate this song into their morning routines. Before they start school, familiarize your children with it. This will give them something familiar to hold onto during those potentially overwhelming first days. If they already have started school, play the song for them. It can help tie together the two areas of their life. This action can also make them feel more secure in their adaptation.
How to Make Bon Dia Part of Your Morning Routine
Here’s how our family incorporated this special song into our daily life:
- Breakfast accompaniment: We often sing along while preparing or eating breakfast. The upbeat tempo helps energize sleepy children!
- Language reinforcement: As a fun catchy song, my little one ends up singing it at any time of day. We join along!
Where to Find Bon Dia
You can easily find Dàmaris Gelabert’s music on most streaming platforms, including Spotify and YouTube. Many Barcelona libraries also carry her CDs if you prefer physical media.
Alternatively, you can use a children’s media player to allow more freedom and flexibility to your child; we upload various Catalan songs on a Creative Tonie to play on our Toniebox.
Legal Note: © ℗ 2004 Tot Sona Records SL Dàmaris Gelabert, 2004, from her CD Cançons per aprendre 3-7 Vol. 2 for educational and celebratory purposes.
Beyond Bon Dia: Other Dàmaris Gelabert Songs for Expat Families
Once your family masters Bon Dia, consider exploring these other helpful songs by Gelabert:
- Els Dies de la Setmana (Days of the Week)
- Els Colors (The Colors)
- Bona Nit (Good Night)
Each offers vocabulary that’s immediately useful in daily life while maintaining that same catchy, approachable style for both your children and yourself while learning a new culture and language.
Embracing Local Culture Through Music
Adjusting to life in a new country involves countless challenges, but finding small, joyful ways to embrace the local culture can make a significant difference. Children’s music offers an accessible entry point that benefits the whole family.
As one fellow American mom told me after three months in Barcelona: “Before we knew any Catalan phrases, we knew Bon Dia. It was our first real connection to Barcelona culture, and now our daughter proudly sings it to anyone who’ll listen!”
Final Thoughts
Music transcends language barriers while simultaneously helping to break them down. By incorporating Bon Dia into your family’s routine, you’re doing more than just learning a cute song—you’re providing your children with a tool for cultural integration and a sense of belonging in their new Barcelona home.
Have you already discovered Dàmaris Gelabert or other local children’s musicians? I’d love to hear about your family’s musical journey in Barcelona in the comments below!
Discover other fun Catalan children’s songs here!
