Speaking two languages with children is hugely beneficial, teaching them a unique understanding of different cultures. Let’s examine how useful this can be for your little one.
Raising a child in two cultures can be a real challenge but it’s not without its benefits. One of the best parts is the opportunity for your little one to be bilingual. Many parents in this situation are wary of asking too much of their child by introducing two languages at once. However, this is arguably the best time for kids to learn a second language. They are already absorbing the basics of one language, and the second one stacks neatly on top.
Under three years of age, children’s brains are absorbing lots of new information from the world around them. Also, there is no evidence to suggest that learning a second language will have any negative impact on their first language. At this very young age, children aren’t overly concerned or daunted by complex grammar or linguistic rules. Their keen minds will pick up all of the new sounds and commit them to memory. Up to and including the first few years in school, children are very well suited to hearing new words, remembering them and pronouncing them properly. As adults, it can be much more difficult to pick up a new language than for our little ones!
More than just a second language
Aside from it being a suitable time for your child to learn a new language, doing so in the early years will benefit your little one in lots of different ways. Let’s consider them.
Memory
Simply having to learn and remember twice as many words will ask a lot more of your child’s memory. This will train them to be able to remember much more information, which is an invaluable ability that will support them throughout their education and beyond.
Linguistic capability
This may sound like an obvious one, but if your child is bilingual when entering school, they will find language-learning much easier than their peers. When it comes time to perhaps learn another language in school, they will be very well prepared.
Brain training
The nature of having two languages to pick from, means that your child’s mind is slightly more active than the minds of monolingual children. You little one will have exercised their brain more and therefore be better able to tackle their studies.
Solving problems
Bilingual children make for more skilled problem-solvers. As their brains are able to piece sentences together in two different languages, they’re better able to identify the factors of a problem and come up with a solution. This will even extend to understanding and developing skills in maths.
Creativity
The kind of skills needed for your little one to speak in two languages can be applied smoothly to creativity. If your child is bilingual, they will be adept at coming up with ideas in more than one way and looking at things from different points of view.
Empathy
Bilingual children naturally have two different influences on the way they think. As a result, it is common for bilingual kids to have a greater understanding of, and openness towards, others.
Concentration
In the early years, bilingual children can often mix their two languages while speaking. As they grow up, they learn to channel one over the other, depending on the situation. This requires a certain level of concentration that can then be used when trying to focus in school or on homework.
Communication
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that bilingual kids are strong communicators. They are used to paying attention to conversations in different languages and responding appropriately. Listening comes easily to them and they are able to pick out the best words to reply with.
Reactions
One aspect of being bilingual is the ‘always on’ nature of your child’s mind. Their brain is paying attention to what is being said so that it can let them know what language to reply in. This means that they’re more likely to stay engaged with the conversation and respond to you more quickly.
Social life
The more languages you speak, the more you can relate to different people from different backgrounds. If your child is bilingual, they naturally have an advantage when it comes to associating with others as they are better able to understand different perspectives.
Confidence
Lots of children are shy, and it’s usually nothing to worry about. However, bilingual kids are familiar with having to switch languages and the breakdowns in communication that come along with making a mistake. They can apply this to their daily life, knowing that even if they make a mistake they have the skills needed to regain their composure and resume the conversation.
Learning a second tongue is a wonderful opportunity for your child to gain an insight into another culture and, as mentioned, provides a whole host of other cognitive and social benefits. Don’t worry that they’ll be overwhelmed or struggle with differentiating their two languages from one another. They will absorb the words and be able to separate and identify them properly with time. Being bilingual is like a superpower in this modern age, opening up doors for your child all over the world.
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