Struggles Every Mom Knows Raising a Bilingual Kid
Being bilingual is like having a superpower. Bilingualism opens doors to a wide range of cultures and communities that would have remained otherwise closed off to a monolingual person. As one might expect, a multilingual life is extraordinarily rich, diverse, and full of possibilities. A bilingual person can communicate with more people and see things from multiple perspectives. According to research, it also improves your cognitive function and can even shield you from developing dementia. It’s no wonder why many parents want their children to develop this valuable skill. However, whether you’re a native speaker or learning a second language yourself, raising a bilingual has its struggles.
Deciding who will speak what
Deciding what language to speak is the first decision we have to make, and it depends on each family’s unique situation. In families where both parents speak the non-dominant language, they may decide to have a “home language” and a “school language.” For other situations, it may make more sense for one parent to speak each language exclusively. It could also be another relative, nanny, babysitter, or teacher who is communicating with the child in the second language. However, perseverance is key: keep the long-term benefits of bilingualism in mind. Create bilingual rules and habits around the home. Celebrate bilingual highlights with your child, and get together with other families who want their children to become bilingual just like you do.
Your child refuses to speak the home language
Some children, at one point or another, do not want to speak their parents’ language anymore. This can develop as a result of peer pressure or wanting to fit in, among other reasons. In these situations, it is best to try to find an alternative way to motivate the child, one which takes into consideration his or her identity.
Children should be surrounded with positive reinforcement so that they enjoy the experience of learning a language. It is important to take into account a child’s feelings by listening, engaging, and expanding on the reasons for wanting or not wanting to continue a specific language. The goal is getting the child to take ownership of their language learning and interest on his terms.
Finding A bilingual school
The American approach to education has gradually shifted away from the mastery of one language to the goal of bilingualism. Nowadays, it is also important the language enrichment and the preservation of cultural heritage. As a result, more and more public schools are offering dual-language programs that support a child’s bilingualism. Parents can also create bilingual programs in their local schools by building a case for a need in a dual-language program. Students can attend weekend heritage and cultural enrichment programs to seek out additional opportunities to learn about their history and culture.
Language development delays
Some people believe that bilingualism leads to language delays. While some bilingual children may experience slight language delays, this is only a temporary stage. Research indicates that when you consider the ensemble of both vocabularies, bilingual children have much richer and varied vocabulary and other linguistic means of expression than their monolingual peers.
