Raising Bilingual Children: Tips and Myths Exposed

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

Journalist Conz Preti found this out firsthand when visiting family in Argentina in 2022. Her four-year-old son surprised her by speaking fluent Spanish with no errors. In their household, she speaks Spanish while her husband speaks English. Until then, their son had never spoken to her in Spanish, but suddenly, it clicked for him.

Raising bilingual children can seem challenging, especially with the many concerns parents face. However, with consistent exposure and practice, teaching a child two or more languages is possible, according to Liliana Diaz, a bilingual speech-language pathologist raising her kids to speak Spanish and English. This doesn’t require costly lessons or language immersion schools. Children naturally absorb what they see and hear.

Understanding Common Misconceptions

Some parents fear that teaching multiple languages will confuse their child. But according to a 2013 article in Learning Landscapes, bilingual children are not more likely to have language difficulties, delays, or disorders than monolingual children. Code-mixing, using two languages in the same sentence, is a normal part of bilingual development and a sign of ingenuity.

Research indicates bilingualism can enhance cognitive function, aid multitasking, and improve academic performance.

Choosing a Language Strategy

Liliana Diaz emphasizes the importance of choosing and sticking to a language strategy. Consistency is key when raising multilingual kids.

Several effective strategies exist:

• One parent, one language: Each parent speaks a different language to the child consistently.
• Time and place: The family designates specific times or places to use the minority language.
• Minority language at home: Use the minority language at home, while school provides exposure to the majority language.
• Mixed languages at home: All family members speak multiple languages simultaneously at home. Children can quickly identify each language.

Whatever method you choose, stick with it. Consistency is essential for language learning.

Creating an Immersive Language Environment

Incorporate multiple languages into daily activities to build exposure. Diaz offers these ideas:

• Engage in activities like listening to music, watching TV, going on playdates, or reading, all in the second language.
• Use video calls with relatives to practice languages actively.
• Celebrate cultural events to add context and enjoyment to language learning.
• Encourage curiosity by exploring similarities between languages.

Emphasize consistency over perfection. Even if your child mixes languages or reverts to the dominant language, don’t force it. Acknowledge their attempts and model responses in the desired language. While code-mixing, engage with them to promote learning.

Patience is important. Children might claim not to understand a language, yet understand it. They will eventually get more comfortable with it.

This article was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler and edited by Malaka Gharib with visuals by Beck Harlan.