Teaching kids a new language

[BK_Adores_Chase]

How early can you start and how would I go about teaching him on my own?  I was thinking maybe trying a daily word or something like that.  Maybe since he's only 3 do a word a week?

[articx]

Ages 3 and before are the best times for someone to start learning a new language. Teaching one word a week is too slow, I think you should make this an everyday thing. Start with the alphabets, then vocabulary, and teach your child how to create sentences in the new language. Make him speak it a little bit each day, and increase it as he learns more. If you can find cartoons in that language, they can create an opportunity for your child to hear and listen to it being spoken.

[zanger09]

I think that learning a language is annoying and not something that really needs to be emphasised. I do perfectly fine with my 2 years of high school spanish, in fact I don't think that I have ever used it.

[alexzurhorst]

I believe that knowing more that one language is one of the best things you can do with your knowledge.  Not only does it help you with using better vocabulary, it also (in my opinion) allows you to have more of an understanding of different cultures.
Of course, learning a new language is easiest at a young age, especially when it is used frequently.  As far as how early you should start, think of it as teaching him English (or your native language), you would say things to him like "That's hot, don't touch, ow!" and "this is your nose, this is your mouth..." etc.  It's never really too early to speak the language to a child.  But if the child is old enough to understand that you're trying to teach them a new language, just let them know that you'll be speaking to them in that language and then eventually you will require them to respond in the same language.
Just aim to make it not seem to them like a chore but more just another way to communicate and they should pick it up over time.  You will be surprised at how quickly children will learn a language.

Good luck!

[BK_Adores_Chase]

Okay, so I think I'm going to actually learn spanish with my son.  I signed up for a free daily word and verb email and I guess I will try to speak that word during the day while also using other words we have used.  I don't want to confuse him by only using spanish, but I figure if I'm the only one speaking to him in spanish, and EVERYBODY ELSE he encounters speaks English, he should be fine.  I know some spanish from high school so I just have to keep in mind what he hasn't been taught yet and I guess right now I'm going to google how to do this properly because I have some ideas in my head but not EXACTLY sure how to go about it.  You know, I wanted to go to college for teaching younger children but always heard how there are no jobs so went for something else.  I wish I went to college for it, but oh well.  Too late as far as I'm concerned, I hope I never receive another homework assignment in my life lol.