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“Do you know what a frog is?” Kimi Pu, 9, asks her dad with a grin, pointing at a fork.
“Frog?” he repeats, sheepish but smiling.
“Frog’ is an animal—this is a fork.”
“Fork! Sorry!” he says.
“Great job,” Kimi replies, her voice soft.
“No, it’s fine … it takes process.”
That tiny phrase—“It takes process”—has become a kind of rallying cry on TikTok. In clips shared on the joint account @kimiandherdad, the Arizona duo invite 579K viewers into their living room “classroom,” where Kimi helps her Guatemalan father, Nicolás Pu, practise English one word at a time.
@kimiandherdad “Dad, Repeat After Me!” #tiktok #foryoupage #foryou ♬ sonido original – 🌹Kimi and her dad🌵
The feed plays like a warm-hearted sitcom: Kimi laying out kitchen utensils for quizzes, correcting pronunciation with patience, and handing out hugs instead of gold stars. Their “field trips” double as real-world lessons—naming fruit in the Walmart produce aisle or acting out a police-officer role-play gone hilariously wrong.
In one viral clip, after Kimi confirms her dad has correctly named a “cup,” he beams, “Thank you, teacher!” It’s a simple exchange that captures the tenderness of their lessons—proof that learning can be both humbling and joyful. Viewers say that’s exactly what makes their bond so moving: the gentle way patience becomes love in action.
Why it hits so hard
On the surface, it’s a cute language lesson. But for millions of parents, it’s something deeper: a glimpse of connection through competence and play. Kimi is collaborating with her father without scolding or rescuing him. Her warmth models the very skills we try to teach our kids: patience, humour, and grace for mistakes.
As Kimi told TODAY, “I started teaching my dad English when I was pretty little, because I noticed that he needed a lot of help at restaurants and stores and talking to his customers … they didn’t understand what he said.”
That empathy, coupled with her dad’s openness to being the learner, flips the traditional power dynamic in a beautiful way. The result? A shared rhythm of respect: “Thank you, teacher.” “It takes process.”
Related: This Disney mom turned theme parks into her kids’ classroom—and parents are fascinated
What viewers are loving
Viewers have flooded the comment sections with reflections on the heartwarming dynamic. Many share how watching Kimi and her dad has reminded them of the power of patience, humor, and gentle teaching in their own families.
- “You have the best dad ever, he’ll get there one day.” — @katycedeno1
- “Love these videos, immigrants have ALWAYS MADE AMERICA GREAT!!!!.” — @skinnymoron
- “He is trying to learn a whole new language and is doing amazing. You are being a great teacher and I am proud of you both.” — @miss.tai__
- “She is so patient and caring. He is so appreciative. This is so beautiful. Blessings to both.” — @stormy_crashing_waves
What child language brokering really means
A study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence found that adolescents who frequently engaged in language brokering reported higher levels of depression and parent-child conflict, particularly when they perceived their parents as psychologically controlling or when they held strong family obligation values.
Additionally, research highlighted in Psychology Today emphasizes the importance of providing support to young language brokers to help them navigate their roles without bearing adult burdens alone.
Therefore, while child language brokering can be a valuable practice, it’s crucial to ensure that children are not placed in situations that exceed their emotional capacity, particularly in high-stakes contexts.
To keep it healthy, experts suggest:
- Use official translators at clinics, schools, or government offices whenever possible.
- Rehearse scripts together before public errands so your child feels prepared, not pressured.
- Debrief feelings afterward—celebrate successes, talk through any confusion, and remind kids that grown-ups ultimately handle adult matters.
Related: Why a little boy’s garbage truck birthday shows the power of raising kids to value every job
3 easy ideas for connection-first language learning
- Object hunt: Take turns naming household items in each other’s language—winner gets to pick dessert.
- Two-way vocab: Parent says the English word, child says the other language, then swap roles.
- “Thank you, teacher” ritual: End every mini-lesson with that same phrase—because respect for learning flows both ways.
Kimi’s videos remind parents that language learning is about generosity. Every correction is wrapped in kindness, every mistake treated as an invitation to keep going. And that three-word refrain? It’s worth borrowing tonight, no matter who’s doing the teaching: “Thank you, teacher.”
Source:
- Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 2012.“The familial context of adolescent language brokering within immigrant Chinese families in Canada.”
- Psychology Today. “Empowering Young Interpreters as Language Brokers.”
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