Q:
My toddler understands Spanish really well, but he almost always answers me in French. We live in a bilingual city and he hears both languages at home. Do I push him to answer in Spanish, or is understanding enough for now?
A:
First, take a breath. This is one of the most normal things a bilingual toddler does, and it's a good sign, not a warning one.
Here's what's happening. He's understanding everything, which is the hard part and the real progress. Answering back in French isn't him rejecting Spanish; it's him reaching for the language that feels easiest and gets the most use out in the world. Comprehension is basically free. He racks it up just by listening to you. Speaking is the expensive part, and most kids reach for it later, once the language feels safe and there's an obvious reason to use it.
So no, you don't need to push. Pushing tends to backfire, because the moment Spanish becomes a test, a two-year-old's instinct is to dodge it. What you want instead is to keep Spanish warm, useful, and completely low-stakes. A few ways to do that:
Keep speaking Spanish, just don't quiz him on it
Use it in the routines you already have: meals, bath, bedtime, the walk to the park. Let him answer in French when he wants to. You're not failing when he does that. You're keeping the door open, and a lot of kids walk through it into active speaking once they feel ready.
Lean on stories he already loves
Books are honestly the easiest bridge there is. Read in Spanish, chat about the pictures in Spanish, and reread his favorites until he's sick of them (he won't be). Familiar stories give him words on repeat with nothing riding on it. When you want narrated audio, read-aloud support, and gentle speaking practice built around a story, you can browse Spanish stories for kids on ReadClub.
Give Spanish somewhere to go
Language sticks when it means connection, not correction. Video calls with abuela, a Spanish-only friend, songs that only ever happen in Spanish: these turn the language into something he wants, not something he's made to do. The more Spanish feels good, the more he'll use it.
Give it time and keep it playful
Understanding today is exactly how speaking starts.
If you want the fuller picture of how story-based practice builds that confidence, see why kids understand a language but won't speak it, and what helps.