Raising Bilingual Children: Insights and Strategies

Many parents worry that teaching their child multiple languages might hinder or confuse them. This belief is unfounded, says Farwa Husain, a bilingual speech-language pathologist.

Journalist Conz Preti observed a remarkable shift when her four-year-old son unexpectedly started speaking Spanish fluently during a family visit to Argentina. At home, Preti speaks to her children in Spanish, while her husband uses English. Up until that time, her son had not spoken Spanish to her, highlighting how quickly children can adapt to multiple languages.

Embracing Bilingualism

Raising bilingual kids poses a challenge for many parents. Yet, with consistency, exposure, and practice, teaching two or more languages is doable. Liliana Diaz, another bilingual speech-language pathologist, is raising her children to speak Spanish and English.

Diaz stresses that expensive language classes or immersion schools aren’t necessary. Husain, similarly raising her children in Hindi, Urdu, and English, notes children absorb vast amounts of information from their surroundings, including languages.

“Children are like sponges absorbing everything they’re seeing and hearing,” Husain says.

Debunking Myths

Many believe teaching multiple languages might delay language development. However, a 2013 article in Learning Landscapes states bilingual children are not more susceptible to language difficulties or developmental delays compared to monolingual peers. Code-mixing, or using two languages in a sentence, is normal in bilingual development and shows children’s creativity.

Benefits of bilingualism include improved cognitive function, enhanced multitasking abilities, and higher academic performance.

Choosing a Language Strategy

Consistency is key in raising multilingual kids.

Diaz and Husain recommend several strategies:

• One parent, one language: Each caregiver speaks one language consistently. For example, one speaks Mandarin, while the other uses Hindi.
• Time and place: The family speaks the minority language during specific times or places, such as Sundays or at a grandparent’s house.
• Minority language at home: The entire household uses the minority language, leaving the majority language for school exposure.
• Mixed languages at home: Family members use all languages at home, which might seem chaotic but works effectively.

Diaz emphasizes the importance of choosing and adhering to a strategy.

Creating an Immersive Environment

Simple daily practices enhance language learning:

• Engage in regular activities, like listening to music or reading, in the second language.
• Video call relatives to converse in another language, fostering valuable communication skills.
• Celebrate cultural events, connecting language to cultural identity and making learning enjoyable.
• Encourage curiosity and experimentation with language similarities, especially between related languages like Spanish and French.

Embracing Imperfection

Sometimes, children prefer speaking the dominant language or mix languages, and that is acceptable.

When they do, acknowledge their attempts, then model the preferred language. Code-mixing is not a mistake; it is an opportunity for engagement.

Diaz appreciates when her son invents mixed English-Spanish words, valuing their creativity.

Preti experiences moments when her children claim misunderstanding, but assures them they comprehend. Persistence pays off as children eventually acquire the language completely.

This episode, produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler, was edited by Malaka Gharib. Visual editing was done by Beck Harlan. We invite feedback through voicemail at 202-216-9823 or email at [email protected].

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