So, you are raising a bilingual child?

Amazing! You are doing something for your child that will have endless benefits for them in their future. Way to go, mom, dad, or caretaker!

Raising a bilingual child requires CONSTANT exposure in the target language, as well as CONSISTENCY and DEDICATION.

First and foremost, you need a plan. How will you raise your bilingual child?

If you are a native or fluent speaker of the target, or minority language, that is great! You have a head start in your bilingual parenting journey. 

Two of the most effective approaches for native and fluent speakers are the Minority Language at Home approach (MLAH) and the One Person, One Language (OPOL) approach.

If you are not a native or fluent speaker in the target language. DO NOT FRET.

There are alternative options, and if you find the proper support for additional input in the target language, you have a way to raise your child bilingually!

One approach that could work for your family is called the Time and Place (T & P ) approach.

Keep reading to learn more about this bilingual parenting approach and tips on tailoring it to your family!

What is the Time and Place Bilingual Parenting Approach?

The Time and Place bilingual parenting approach is pretty straightforward.

You choose between either a time or place to speak to your kids in the minority language.

Below are a few examples of how a family might use time as the parameter for this approach:

• In the morning, the family speaks in the majority language. At night, the family speaks in the minority language.
• During the weekdays, the family speaks in the majority language. Over the weekends, the family speaks in the minority language.
• On Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the weekends, the family speaks in the majority language. On Tuesdays, and Thursdays, the minority language.

Do you get the gist?

Bottom line, it’s your time and your family, so you have the advantage of creating your own time schedule that works best.

Below are a few examples of how a family might use place as the parameter for this approach:

• In the house’s main rooms (living room, kitchen, etc.), the family uses the majority language, and in the bedrooms, the minority language.
• At the grandparents’ house (who care for the children during the week), the children use the minority language and the majority language at home.
• T & P is the approach used if there is no minority language spoken by the caretakers whatsoever, but the children go to a bilingual immersion school. Thus, at school, the children would use the minority language and the majority language.

Who Uses the Time and Place Bilingual Parenting Approach?

“T & P is a grab-bag of “non-person” strategies that sounds like the “place” strategy of MLAH except that it is less a description of the family’s daily routine and more a description of fairly regular departures from it.”

 – Barbara Zurer Pearson, Ph.D
Raising a Bilingual Child

The time and place bilingual parenting approach is great for:

• For monolingual parents who want to introduce their children to a second language.

They can use the time and place approach by enrolling their children in immersion programs, hiring a caretaker who speaks the minority language, or learning the language together as a family.

• For parents who speak more than one language and want to separate the languages, contrary to the OPOL approach, where language is separated by person. For example, mom and dad both speak English, but dad speaks Spanish also. In the evenings on Monday through Friday, when dad is home, the kids speak in Spanish with Dad, but on the weekends, as a family, they all speak in English.
• For tri(+)lingual families. Mom and dad speak English, mom speaks Italian, and dad speaks German. On the weekday mornings, the kids speak Italian with the mom. In the evening, the family speaks English. And on Sundays, the kids speak in German with the father. Wow, it’s getting complicated now, huh?
• For parents who are not fluent enough in the minority language, but do not feel comfortable carrying out essential conversations in the minority language. yet still want to raise bilingual kids. The parents could carve out a specific time when they only speak in the minority language to their kids through activities and play.
• For parents with older children who have decided later on that they want to reintroduce them to their native tongue.

Advantages of the time and place approach

• The T & P bilingual parenting approach is an alternative for families who want to raise bilingual children but cannot do a more popular approach, such as the MLAH or OPOL approaches.
• Families can accommodate their language schedules to what fits best for their home and work life.
• If done correctly and consistently, children become the advocates of the language schedule.

Disadvantages of the Time and place approach

• There are not as many studies of the T & P approach as the MLAH, and OPOL approaches.
• It requires a high level of commitment and consistency.
• It can result in an unbalanced language exposure, with limited exposure in the minority language.

Tips and recommendations for using the time and place bilingual parenting  approach

I do not have any personal experience with the T & P approach, as we raise our son Lennox using the MLAH approach. Though I have come across other bilingual parent’s IG accounts using T & P , and I am completely fascinated by their dedication to this approach. Way to go!

If you are reading this and using the T & P approach, please feel free to share some of your best tips and advice in the comments section below! 

In my research, I came across Maria from Trilingualmama.com who uses this approach to raise her children trilingually in English, French, and Spanish. The father only speaks to the children in French. The mother speaks to the children in English for two weeks and Spanish for two weeks.

Here is a brief excerpt from her post about why she chose this time frame:                                                                                                      

“I started speaking English or Spanish with the children every other day. But I quickly realized the mental gymnastics this represented for all of us and somewhere I had heard that one family would spend an entire month in a language. This seemed like too long to me, but I liked the idea and thought that maybe somewhere between one day and one month might be a good compromise. We settled on two weeks. We tried it, we loved it and we’ve never looked back.”

I recommend checking out her post to get all of her excellent tips and advice, but to close out this post, I want to highlight a few of her best tips that can guide you in your bilingual parenting journey, should you choose this approach.

Maria’s tips for using the T & P approach

• Play around with different periods of time to find a rhythm that works for the who family.
• Commit to the language wherever you go.
• If you are on your calendar day to speak in the minority language, make sure to use it everywhere on those days. That way, you are maximizing language exposure and showing commitment to your language schedule.
• Use a calendar to remember your language schedule.
• Choose a setup day for switching, and allow a couple of days for the transition to set in.
• Inform your family about the upcoming switch of languages to keep them prepared and in the loop.

For more detailed advice on how Maria makes the T & P approach work for her family, check out her post here.

Well, amigos, that closes out the Time and Place bilingual parenting approach. I hope you are as intrigued by this approach as I. 

If you are using this approach or have used this approach, I would love to hear your story! Drop all the details in the comments below!

Keep reading:

• 5 Tips On Using the Time and Place Bilingual Parenting Approach
• 13 Facts Parents Who Want to Raise a Bilingual Child Need to Know
• 10 Misconceptions About Raising Bilingual Children

References:

Babin, Maria. “Raising Multilingual Children Using an Adaptation of OPOL.” Trilingualmama.com, 17 Mar. 2014, www.trilingualmama.com/raising-multilingual-children-using-an-adaptation-of-opol-switching-languages-every-two-weeks/.

Díaz, Kaila, Time and Place. The Bilingual Parenting Podcast, 22 June 2020.

Pearson, Barbara Zurer. Raising a Bilingual Child: a Step-by-Step Guide for Parents. Living Language, 2008.

Rosenback, Rita. “Time and Place – T&P as a Family Language Strategy.” Multilingual Parenting, 26 Mar. 2017, multilingualparenting.com/2015/04/29/time-and-place-as-a-family-language-strategy/.

The post Time and Place: A Bilingual Parenting Method appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

This approach is more commonly known as One Parent, One Language approach, but in some cases, it is not always the parent providing the exposure to a language. It could also be a grandparent, caretaker or another outside source; therefore, I personally prefer the term One Person, One Language. 

Some examples of families raising bilingual kids using the OPOL approach:

• An American mother and an Italian father raising their kids in English and Italian in Italy.
• A Brazilian Father and an American mother raising their kids in Portuguese in the U.S.
• A French mother and a German father raising their kids trilingually in French and German in England. The kids learn English, the majority or community language, outside of the home.

OPOL is an excellent option for mixed-language families who want to raise a bilingual child, especially in families with a monolingual parent that only speaks the community language.  It is also the most natural approach for mixed families because, in most cases, each person is speaking their native language.

Until you try to raise a child in your non-native language, you do not understand how wondrous it is to talk to your child in your mother tongue..

According to Adam Beck in Maximize Your Child’s Bilingual Ability, OPOL has a success rate of 74.24%. 

Now that we know the basics of OPOL, I would like to breifly talk about the history of OPOL. Then, I go into the pros and cons of OPOL. Then, I will conclude by offering some tips and advice on implementing the OPOL language in your household. 

*This site may contain affiliate links. To real the full disclosure, click here.

The History of One Person, One Language

The One Parent, One Language bilingual parenting approach has been around for a very long time, but it was coined in 1902 by French linguist Maurice Grammont who theorized that by separating languages by parents from birth, parents could prevent code-mixing.

Over the decades, many linguists used this theory, and OPOL came to be known as the most effective approach to raising a true, simultaneous bilingual child. 

However, this has been disproven over recent years. A study of 2,000 bilingual families conducted by Annick de Houwer states that 25% of the children raised with the OPOL bilingual parenting approach did not become bilingual.

Let’s take a further look into the pros and cons of OPOL.

Pros of the One Person, One Language Approach

• Exposure to two languages from birth.

  Exposure is the key to bilingualism, and through the OPOL approach, children can receive roughly equal language exposure to both the target and the majority language from birth. Nonetheless, this varies depending on the family and environment.

• It is relatively straightforward.

  OPOL is bound to few rules. One person speaks the target language, and another person speaks the majority language.

• Simultaneous bilingualism:

  With OPOL, the child continuously hears both languages from birth, unlike the Minority Language at Home approach where the child is raised speaking the minority language first, then adding in the majority language.

• A natural approach

  In most cases, parents are the native speakers of the language they speak with their children, making this approach more natural.

Cons of the One Person One Language Approach

• Children can become passive bilinguals.

  If children do not receive enough exposure to the minority language, then they can become passive bilinguals. Passive bilingualism is when someone can understand a language but cannot communicate in it. 

  An example of a scenario that might result in a passive bilingual is: if the father is a minority language speaker and works longs hours. He is only home with the child for a maximum of four hours a day, in which not all are interacting with the child in the minority language.  

• Exposure is rarely equal.

  Like I mentioned above, if there is less input in one of the languages, especially the minority language, the language will suffer. Here is another scenario where this might happen: Cristina, a fellow bilingual parenting blogger, is raising her children using the OPOL approach. She is German, living in England with her monolingual, English-speaking husband. She is with the kids, speaking the minority language, German most of the time, but she struggles to get enough exposure in the German language due to lack of outside support or resources. 

  Exposure to the minority language can also diminish once children start school and use the majority language more. The minority language parent will have to put in even more effort to level the imbalance. 

The family dynamic can be significantly affected

Tips for Using the One Person, One Language Bilingual Parenting Approach

I do not use the OPOL approach in my family. We use the MLAH approach, so I can only speak on behalf of my personal experiences when providing the following tips.

However, I can say that regardless of the approach you are using to raise your children bilingually, it is essential to:

• Be consistent! Pick an approach and go full force with it, on a consistent basis!

If you are doing OPOL, do not sway from the language you are speaking to your child, especially if you are the minority language parent. You ARE their exposure. It will get frustrating and tiring at times, but you are doing a remarkable thing for your child. They will be forever thankful for your sacrifice and hardwork.

• Supplement with outside sources

 If you are the minority language parent, look for outside support through a community group of people that speak the same minority language. Form playgroups, zoom calls, sleepovers, etc., in the minority language. 

If you have the means, find a caretaker that speaks the minority language . Have them use it with your child all the time. 

If you have family that speaks the minority language, invite them to over and ask them to talk about the minority language with your children. 

Browse the web for support groups. You would be surprised at some of the free resources you can find from fellow bilingual parentings trying to help, like myself =) 

• Travel

If you can, travel to a place where the minority language is spoken, and stay a white if you can.

When Cristina realized that the balance of English and German and her home was starting to lean more towards English, she decided to go live with her family in Germany for two years. She said that this did wonders for her children’s bilingualism.

• Talk, talk, talk with your child about everything in the minority language!

It gets tiring, I know, but your children are listening and learning from your every word! Make use of this while they still listen!

• Celebrate your child’s bilingualism!

Let your child know, and let them know all the time, just how important and unique they are for speaking more than one language!

• Read. Then read some more.

• Related: How to Read to Your Bilingual Toddler in the Minority Language

•  Play

Playing is one of the most resourceful learning tools. Get on the floor and play with your child in the minority language!

I highly recommend loose parts play when interacting in the minority language!

• Do not give in to critics

Don’t let anyone’s monolingual miseries get in the way of your capability of raising your bilingual kid! Use it as a time to encourage and educate these critics about bilingualism and its benefits. 

Well, I think I have covered everything that I needed to cover. Please let me know if I left anything out in the comments below. 

Also, if you are raising a bilingual child, I want, and I need to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail here and let me know your story! And if you feel really compelled, write me a story about your bilingual journey. I can add it to this blog as a resource for other bilingual parents that might be in a similar situation!

¡Gracias!

Keep reading:

• Minority Language at Home Bilingual Parenting Approach
• 13 Facts Parents Who Want to Raise a Bilingual Child Need to Know
• 10 Misconceptions About Raising Bilingual Children

References:

“Adapting The OPOL Language Strategy, Not All Families Can Stick to OPOL So Why Should They?” Bilingual Kidspot, 4 Feb. 2021, bilingualkidspot.com/2017/08/07/adapting-opol-language-strategy/.

Beck, Adam. Maximize Your Child’s Bilingual Ability: Ideas and Inspiration for Even Greater Success and Joy Raising Bilingual Kids. Bilingual Adventures, 2016.

Grosjean, François. “One Person–One Language and Bilingual Children.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 1 Apr. 2015, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/life-bilingual/201504/one-person-one-language-and-bilingual-children.

King, Kendall A., and Alison Mackey. The Bilingual Edge: Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language. Collins, 2007.

Linguistic Society of America, www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/faq-raising-bilingual-children.

Pearson, Barbara Zurer. Raising a Bilingual Child: a Step-by-Step Guide for Parents. Living Language, 2008.

Rita, et al. “One Parent, One Language – OPOL Is Dead, Long Live OPOL!” Multilingual Parenting, 26 Mar. 2017, multilingualparenting.com/2015/04/15/one-parent-one-language-opol-is-dead-long-live-opol/

The post One Person One Language (OPOL): A Bilingual Parenting Method appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

MLAH is the approach we use in our household, so I hold this topic near and dear to my heart <3 

Enjoy! In the comments below, please tell me a little bit about your ‘bilingual beginnings’ and which approach you use or plan to use!

What is the Minority Language at Home Approach

MLAH is when a family decides to speak the minority or target language inside the home and community language outside of the home. (This latter may vary depending on the family. Keep reading for more information. 

MLAH requires two parents that are native or fluent in the minority language. In most cases, MLAH families are composed of either migrants or expats.

There are also cases– such as mine, consisting of parents who are of fluent proficiency in the minority language.

Regardless, both parents speak the same minority language and decide to use that language inside their home.

Some examples of MLAH families:

• A Latinx parent and a Latinx parent located in the United States speaking Spanish at home.
• A parent of Brazilian nationality and a parent of Portuguese nationality living in England and speaking in Portuguese at home
• A fluent speaker of Russian from the United States and a parent of Russian nationality living in the United States speaking Russian.

The common denominator here is that BOTH caretakers speak the same minority language(s) and as a family decide to speak that language AT HOME.

In my case, I am a forever student of Spanish with a Salvadoran partner. We are both raising our son Lennox in Spanish.

Why I chose the Minority Language at Home approach

I chose this approach because I have witnessed first-handedly the dying of language throughout my education and personal experiences.

Many of my Spanish-speaking in-laws have children who have difficulty speaking Spanish due to the English tidal wave that hits home once children are school-aged. They lose interest in the minority language because it is not reinforced or prioritized at home.

In his book, The Bilingual Edge Kendall King talks about the “magnetlike pull” of English and how “even in the nation’s largest Spanish-speaking enclave (Southern California)… Spanish appears to be well on the way to a natural death by the third generation of U.S. residence.” (112)

As a linguist, this wounds my poor heart. When we lose a language, we lose parts of our culture and identity. We MUST push past this pull and instill our native tongues in our children!

I am very passionate about this subject, if you can’t tell! This passion is the reason for this blog and the reason why I have committed to making sure Lennox speaks Spanish and TAKES pride in doing so!

And I hope you can one day share this same enthusiasm.

Related: Ways to Read To You Child in the Target Language When You Don’t Have Books in the Target Language

     What about when you are out and about in the community?

Some families decide to speak the community language outside of the home.

Other families carry the minority language with them wherever they go.

I try to use the minority language outside of the home to get as MUCH exposure as possible.

However, there are situations where I switch to English.

Sometimes I switch to be polite. For example, if I am hanging out with a monolingual English-speaking friend(s), I will speak to Lennox in English.

I don’t want that friend to feel left out or feel like I might be saying something rude.

This concept of someone speaking in another language as being rude is a widespread mentality of monolingual speakers. For example, today, I was getting my nails done, and I saw a lady disgruntled at the fact that the employees started speaking in their minority language. As a linguist, I know it is easier for people to communicate in their native tongue. As a monolingual speaker, the lady most likely perceived their side conversation as rude. 

Consequently, around family and friends, I will switch and speak to Lennox in English. Yet, on a grocery trip, I will talk to him in Spanish.

Another scenario of when some MLAH families might switch to the community language, is when a bilingual child is around their friends. They might feel ashamed to speak the minority language.

 In this case, I recommend not pushing the minority language because it might cause a setback and disapproval of the minority language.

Go with the flow and speak with your child in the majority language, but make sure when you get home to talk about the importance and benefits of your minority language to your child.

Barbara Zurer, in her book Raising a Bilingual Child states that this embarrassment of the minority language might “be a signal that you have not been reinforcing your child’s self-esteem as a bilingual enough.” (144) She recommends that we “praise the child’s bilingualism.”

As much as I can, I try to have an open-discussion with Lennox about his bilingualism, how beneficial it is, and how unique he is because he is bilingual. Granted, he is a three-year-old, but I can see a sense of pride now when he recognizes Spanish out and about.

Advantages of the MLAH approach

1. Adam Beck, in his book, Maximize Your Child’s Bilingual Ability, claims that the MLAH has the “highest success rate of 96.92% and has “the highest odds of success are gained when both parents use the minority language with the child and limit the use of the majority language.” (127)
2. It provides massive exposure to the minority language and culture as well.
3. The entire family can speak together in the same language, unlike One Parent One Language (OPOL) approach, where one parent speaks the minority language to the child and the second parent speaks the majority language.

Disadvantages of the Minority Language at Home approach

1. Both parents must be able to speak the minority language proficiently.
2. If both parents work long hours, then the child might not receive sufficient exposure to the minority language.
3. A lack of initial input in the community language can cause setbacks when they begin school.

In this case, you could start exposing the community language before the child begins school, but worry not. Children learn at such a rapid pace and will quickly—more quickly than you probably would like, pick up on the community language.

For example, two of my favorite nieces and nephews came from El Salvador when they were around 4 and 7. they spoke little to no English.

Fast forward three years later, and they speak English (very well, if I might add), and since there has been no reinforcement of Spanish, they are quickly losing their Spanish. I make sure to tell them all the time that being able to speak Spanish will be so vital for them in the future. I hope I am making an impact.

Tips and advice for parents implementing the Minority Language at Home approach

Exposure is the key to success and meaningful exposure at that! 

Here are some ideas for in-home exposure of minority languages.

• Books: Read, and read as much as you can. Here you can find collections of thematic books in Spanish for your kiddos, and if you subscribe at the end of this post, you will receive our monthly Library Lunes series, with a new list of Spanish books for kids.
• Through play! Play is the best way to learn. Period. Take advantage of open-ended, play-based activities to talk to your child about anything and everything in the minority language.
  • Here are some play-based activities I have up on the blog and,
  • Here is a list of open-ended toys that are great for bilingual kids!

• When you must, use technology, although it is not recommended for younger kids. YouTube offers excellent channels in Spanish for kids. We love El Reino Infantíl! If Spanish is not your minority language, drop recommendations in the comments below for other parents that might be raising their kids in your minority language.

Related: The Best YouTube Channels in Spanish for Preschoolers

• You can also set your preferences on Netflix and other applications to be in your minority language.

• There are many more resources you can utilize. I have a post on ways I raise Lennox in Spanish at home here that might help, and I recently did a guest blog post for LeapFrog on ways to encourage bilingualism in children at home that you can check out here.

Well, I think that I have covered everything that I wanted to cover. I hope this post enlightened your bilingual journey. Stay tuned for more details on the other three major bilingual parenting approaches that will follow suit shortly. 

That you so much, and if your minority language is Spanish. Don’t forget to subscribe below for FREE and fun resources delivered to your mailbox monthly!

Mil gracias!

More Bilingual Parenting Posts:

• 10 Misconceptions About Raising Bilingual Children
• Time and Place Bilingual Parenting Approach
• One Person, One Language Bilingual Parenting Approach

The post Minority Language at Home (MLAH): A Bilingual Parenting Method appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

From concerns about speech delays to fears of confusion, these myths have circulated widely. However, I’m here to share my personal experiences and anecdotes, debunking each myth with real-life examples.

So, let’s dive in and explore the truth behind raising bilingual children. Join me as I shed light on the benefits and misconceptions of bilingualism, empowering parents like you to navigate this rewarding journey with confidence.

And remember to connect with me on Instagram for daily bilingual parenting tips and a wealth of Spanish resources! Together, we’ll unlock the full potential of bilingualism for our children.

A little background first

If you didn’t know already, I have been raising my son, Lennox, in Spanish. 

I am not a native Spanish-speaker myself, but I do have many years of Spanish education under my belt.  

Speaking Spanish with a child is a whole different ballgame. 15 years of studying Spanish, traveling and living with a Latino did not prepare me to raise a child in Spanish. I am learning a whole new aspect of the language right along with Lennox— new vocabulary, onomatopoeias, gestures, babbles, and more.  Its quite fascinating.

Related: 12 Ways to Become Fluent in Spanish Outside of the Classroom

Since I switched my blog to focus more on bilingual parenting, I have realized there are so many studies and approaches when it comes to raising a bilingual child. Hence, I have put more thought into the ways I will bilingually parent Lennox.

Bilingual Parenting Myths

One bilingual study that I am reading is called The Bilingual Edge by Kendall King, Ph.D., and Alison Mackey, Ph.D.. It is such a great read and it has answered a lot of the questions and concerns that I have had in the past two years of raising a bilingual child.  

My main concern before reading The Bilingual Edge was Lennox’s speech delay. I blamed it on his exposure to two languages thinking that maybe he was confused with which vocabulary to use and when.

My biggest fear was that my nonnative Spanish wasn’t doing the trick. 

I had this lingering doubt that Carlos and I were doing something wrong as parents. That doubt grew when I would hang out with other moms, with children the same age as Lennox who were already speaking in full sentences.

Lennox being a delayed speaker has not been my only concern throughout my bilingual parenting journey. Reading The Bilingual Edge has made it clear that my worries are valid, but I should not be discouraged.

That is why I wanted to dedicate a post to outline King and Mackey’s chapter two Called Myths and Misconceptions about Learning a Second Language: What’s the real deal. In this chapter, the authors debunk 10 myths about second language learning. I want to add examples from my personal experiences to add further clarity. 

Myth 1: “Bilingual children will have a speech delay”

Over of the past couple of weeks, Lennox has turned into a loro, a parrot. I am not longer worried about a speech delay because this kid never, stops, talking. The majority of his words are in Spanish and let me tell you how amazing this makes me feel. 

Finally, all of my hard work and dedication to only speaking Spanish to him is paying off. 

Raising a bilingual child is not easy. It requires planning, time and a solid approach. In our household, we speak to Lennox only in Spanish. This approach is known as the Minority Language at Home (MLAH) approach. 

Related: 13 Facts Parents Who Want to Raise a Bilingual Child Need to Know

This approach works for us because I have studied Spanish for quite some time now, and I feel comfortable only speaking in Spanish to Lennox. However, that does not mean that you have to be bilingual for your kid to be bilingual.  

There’s another approach called One Parent, One Language (OPOL) which is when one parent speaks in their native tongue, and the other in their native tongue. Experts say that this approach is the most beneficial because the child is constantly being exposed to two different languages. 

If your family is monolingual, maybe you could try the Time and Place bilingual parenting approach.

There are so many opportunities and resources available nowadays to raise your child bilingually.

According to King and Mackey, “Bilingualism is increasingly seen as a highly desirable asset.” (20) Maybe you have a nanny who always speaks to your child in a second language. Or, you send your child to a second language school. Even better, you can learn a language alongside your child by reading, going to events, traveling, etc. 

Related: Seven Awesome Baby and Toddler Books in Spanish

The whole idea here is that it is possible to raise a bilingual child if your family is not bilingual, or if one parent is not bilingual. It simply requires effort and planning. 

As for the second part of the myth, “bilingual parents always raise bilingual children”, I know plenty of families who speak two languages, but do not make it a priority for their children to learn both. 

King and Mackey state that this can happen for three reasons.

           1. In the United States, there is a monolingual norm.

           2. The English language is seen as a high-status, high-prestige language. 

           3. Children are aware of the status encoded in the language.

In the past, these reasons have caused many immigrant families to give priority to English causing a switch to monolingualism over the generations. 

From my personal experience, I know many first-generation Latino immigrants whose children grow up speaking Spanish, go to school, learn English. Their parents do not push for their children to speak Spanish and overtime they lose it. It is so heartbreaking to witness because there is so much beauty in being able to speak two or more languages. This is one of the main reasons for my blog. To advocate bilingualism! 

Myth 2: “You have to start very early for second language learning or you will miss the boat”

A young child has an enormous advantage over learning more than one language. They learn at such a quick pace, they are less anxious to make mistakes, and they are innocent of stereotypes and prejudices.

However, this does not mean that an older child or an adult cannot attain bilingualism.

I am proof of that.

I may be slightly obsessed with languages and traveling which was a driving force behind my language learning, but anyone that sets their mind to it can learn a language.

Myth 3: Only native speakers and teachers can teach children second languages.

I am not a native speaker of Spanish, nor am I a teacher.

Even though I do worry at times that Lennox may pick up on some of my grammatical and vocabulary errors, King and Mackey assert that “these sorts of imperfections do not harm or impede children’s language learning.” (23)

As long as a child is exposed and interacting with a second language, they will develop the ability to use it.

With that being said, if you are not a native speaker or a teacher, there are many ways that you can interact with your child in the target language. “The value lies in the interaction” (ibid) Interact with your child through books, music, food, culture and more.

Do not let this myth be your discouraging factor.

Myth 4: “Children who are raised in the same family will have the same language skills as one another”

Even though I am very proud that Lennox understands and speaks Spanish, I know that he will soon go to school and pick up English very quickly.

Once I have a second child, I will not have as much one-on-one time with that child as I do with Lennox now. Also, even though it will be a rule in our home to speak Spanish, there will be times when Lennox might be interacting with his sibling alone, and in English.   

I’ve witnessed this with my Latino nieces and nephews. The first-born children have great dominance in Spanish, whereas the younger children are highly influenced by the English spoken by their older siblings and cousins.  

Myth 5: “It is important to correct errors as soon as they appear in grammar and vocabulary (to prevent forming bad habits)”

According to the authors, “error correction should be done selectively.” (25) If you overcorrect or correct your child in a way that may embarrass him or her, it can result in a lack of confidence.

This myth was new to me and It makes so much sense.

All children make mistakes in language, whether they are monolingual or know more than one language.

Making mistakes is one of the best ways of learning.

In my personal experience, a lot of my learning took place through my bravery of speaking up, listening, and making mistakes. Sometimes I would get corrected, however, if I was corrected for my every mistake, I might have become disheartened from trying to keep learning.

Myth 6: “Exposing my child to two languages means she will be a late talker.”

As I mentioned in the introduction, this was my biggest concern with Lennox. King and Mackey argue that this is not the case. They say that in general, this is a wide variation in the ages that children speak. While it may be possible that bilingual children take longer to develop their speech (they are taking in two languages, two vocabularies, two grammatical structures) learning two languages itself is not the cause.

Lennox has been an extremely active child from the womb. He was born with a determination to move. He even rolled over at eight weeks. 

As an almost-three-year-old, he is extremely athletic. Now, as much as I may have been discouraged that at the beginning of his preschool because some of the other kids were speaking full sentences, I didn’t realize how advanced Lennox was in terms of his motor skills. He can kick a soccer ball better than I can!

In Lennox’s case, he has been way too busy to form words and sentences, but now his speech is unstoppable.

 Follow us on Instagram to see how talented he is! Mama’s bias =) 

The bottom line, all children develop differently. Some become little poets by two-years-old, and others may be lining up to be the future Messi. 

Myth 7: “Mixing languages is a sign of confusion, and languages must stay separate.”

This was another worry of mine. There are some words Lennox says only in English. For example, thank you, I love you, and blue. 

At first, I was worried he was confused, but now I realize he has a preference for some words in one language over another. I can easily ask him to go get his carro azul and he will bring it back and say “blue car.”

According to the authors:

“Mixing languages is a normal phase of bilingual language development. It seems to be near-universal among bilingual children and is apparent even at the babbling stage; that is, long before children can say a word in any language.” (27)

It is a short-lived phase.

Myth 8: “Television, DVDs and edutainment, like talking toys, are a great way to pick up languages”

Or so I thought at the beginning of my bilingual parenting. 

In actuality, there are no proven benefits of screen-time for infants and toddlers, monolingual or bilingual. The Pediatric Academy recommends no television at all for children under two. (29)

Now, if you read my 7 ways I teach my toddler Spanish post, you know that we do use technology when I have to get things done around the house. That said, when I do use screen-time, it is absolutely in Spanish. 

Infants and toddlers need human exposure to a language. They need to be able to pick up the tones of a language, mimic the phonetics, and experience the non-verbal gestures that go hand-in-hand with language.

There are some bilingual interactive toys that are great for language learning. Check out this post here which mentions some great interactive toys that are great for bilingual children.

At home, we try to read a lot in Spanish. We also do a lot of play-based learning with loose parts to evoke conversation and introduce new vocabulary.

Related: How to Read to Your Bilingual Toddler in the Minority Language

Looking for some FREE activities in Spanish for your kids, I have a whole compilation you can check out here!

For older children and adults, technology can provide a fun and positive connection for second-language learning. In my 12 ways that I learned Spanish outside of the classroom post, I mention that one of my favorite ways to learn Spanish is by watching shows in Spanish, while simultaneously reading the subtitles. I learned a lot of new vocabulary, especially slang, this way.

Myth 9: “Bilingual education programs are for non-English speakers”

King and Mackey explain that bilingual education has “radically shifted” in the last decade. In the United States alone there are now more than “350 dual-language schools.” (ibid)

One of my plans is to start up a Spanish immersion play-based preschool. I think starting dual language acquisition early is so beneficial, and I would love to put my education and experience into making this country more bilingual.

Myth 10: “Two languages are the very most a very young child should be exposed to”

The more languages the merrier. According to the authors millions of children grow up learning three or more languages, and there are no negative effects. The only thing they recommend is to make sure the child receives adequate exposure and meaningful interaction in each language.

I studied Italian and Portuguese in undergrad, and I hope one day to pass on these languages to Lennox as well. We shall see.

Well, thank you if you made it to this point. I hope you enjoyed this post. For more information, I highly recommend purchasing The Bilingual Edge. It is so informative. If not, stay tuned because I know I will be referencing it in future posts.

To see Lennox’s Spanish skills up close and personal, follow us on Instagram and/or Facebook. For more bilingual parenting tips and free Spanish activities for kids, subscribe to our blog below! I don’t spam, promise.

Related posts you might enjoy:

• Time and Place Bilingual Parenting Approach
• One Person, One Language Bilingual Parenting Approach
• Minority Language at Home Bilingual Parenting Approach

The post 10 Must- Know Misconceptions About Raising Bilingual Children appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

Or, perhaps you simply love languages and/or know the benefits of being bilingual and want to jump start your child during the early stages of their language acquisition years.

Regardless of your background, you are here because you want to know more about raising a bilingual child, and you have come to the right place. 

Today, I am going to share 13 facts parents who want to raise a bilingual child need to know.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram for more bilingual parenting tips and advice!

First, let me tell you a little bit about my bilingual parenting background.

I was born and raised by monolingual parents in the United States. As a requirement, I started learning Spanish in high school. I had no prior interest in learning languages.

When I was 15, I traveled to Nicaragua on a mission trip where I fell in love, not only with the language but also with the culture. It was a real amor a primera vista (love at first sight).

Never in my life had I felt so passionate about something. I felt on fire, and I wasn’t going to put out that flame until I conquered the language.

Later. I went on to college, and even though my mom wanted me to study business, I was not interested in anything but learning Spanish and traveling. In college,I studied abroad in Panamá. After that trip, I decided that Spanish wasn’t enough. I wanted more. So, I started learning Portuguese and Italian.

Then, in 2011, my life came to an abrupt halt when I met my Salvadoran partner, Carlos.

Carlos fascinated me, especially his Spanish. I was always listening for new words, and I loved hearing the different tones of the Salvadoran dialect. 

I was obsessed with his culture. Especially his food. Oh, the gloriousness of Salvadoran food—pupusas, carne asada, ceviche, pescado frito, and the list goes on and on with savory delight.

Meeting Carlos is when my “bilingual beginnings” began. I was able to put all of my education and experience into everyday use. After the first few years of our relationship, I realized that I no longer needed to think before I spoke in Spanish, which was a triumphant feeling.

Related: 12 Ways to Become Fluent in Spanish Outside of the Classroom

After six years, Carlos and I settled down and decided to expand our love and bring our family. So, in 2017, I delivered my precious ball of sleepless and colicky joy to the world.

I couldn’t wait to raise a little Spanish-speaker. 

Lennox is three now and speaks more Spanish than me! 

Since birth, we have raised him bilingually using the Minority Language At Home (MLAH) approach. That means that we use Spanish at home and out and about as a family as much as possible.

*Updated September 2021: Now we raise Lennox using the Mixed Language strategy! This strategy is a little bit different than MLAH, but we still nurture the minority language as family!

Raising Lennox in my nonnative language has been far from easy. As fluent as I consider myself in Spanish, they don’t teach you nursery rhymes or onomatopoeias in Spanish class. Un perro hace wau wau, not woof, woof. 

Hence it has been a learning process for me as well. 

Related: Free Spanish Printables for Kids

To quit boring you with my background, I hope to shed some tips on you if you are in the process or plan to raise a bilingual child. These tips are not meant to discourage you from your bilingual parenting journey. 

As Kevin Wong states:

“though raising children is often a thankless job, bilingualism is a gift that they will undoubtedly thank you for one day.”

If you stick with it, you will never regret it.

Leave me a comment below with your experiences with bilingual parenting, and make sure to subscribe for weekly bilingual parenting tips and advice.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 1: Raising a bilingual child requires a lot of hard work

Raising a bilingual child is not easy and requires a lot of research and planning about how you are going to raise your child bilingually.

There are multiple approaches to raising a bilingual child. Two of the most common are

• One Person, One Language (OPOL). With the OPOL approach, one parent speaks one language to the child, and the other parent speaks the other.

If I used this approach, Carlos, who is a native Spanish speaker, would speak to Lennox is Spanish, and I, a native English speaker, would talk to Lennox in English.

Using this approach, children get used to hearing both languages on a daily basis. I read a recent article that says that this approach is the “most effective and successful” way of raising a bilingual child.

The second most common approach is MLAH, Minority Language at Home. In this approach, the non-dominant language is spoken only at home. This way, children get a solid foundation of the language at home, and in society, they pick up the dominant language.

This is the method we use in our household, and it is very effective.

Another less studied approach is the Time and Place (T & P) approach that is great for parents who might not be fluent in a minority language, or want to introduce a language to their older children.

There is also the mixed languages strategy which requires two bilingual caretakers of the same language. If done right, this strategy can be highly effective!

Bilingual Parenting Fact 2: Raising a bilingual child requires massive exposure

Raising a bilingual child requires constant and massive exposure to the non-dominant language.

In-home exposure through reading, singing, talking, music & play.

At home, I often read to Lennox. I am building up his Spanish library, but books are not cheap. Click here to see ways that I read to Lennox without having books in the target language.

We also play different types of Latin and Spanish music, and we do a lot of in-home Spanish activities.

Check out our free activities in Spanish here

Sometimes, I need to tend to my motherly duties and do occupy screen time. However, I have changed all of our cable settings to broadcast in Spanish.

Even though technology might seem like a useful resource for language learning Perri Klass, M.D states that:

 “in order to foster language development, the exposure has to be person-to-person; screen time doesn’t count for learning language in young children — even one language — though kids can learn content and vocabulary from educational screen time later on.”

Exposure outside of the home is valuable too.

Spending time with family and friends that speak the target language. Going to cultural events and activities. 

Experts say that “If children are exposed to a language in a variety of circumstances with many different people from the time they are born, and if they feel they need the language to interact with the world around them, they will learn it.”

Related post: 9 Outdoor Language Learning Ideas for Kids

Bilingual Parenting Fact 3: Consistency is key

Whichever method you choose to raise your bilingual child, you need to stick with it.

This is difficult for me as a nonnative speaker, because sometimes, when I’m flustered or preoccupied, it’s just easier for me to say what I need to say in English. However, I try my hardest to always speak to Lennox in Spanish.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 4: Parents need to encourage the language

If parents do not push for a need to speak the less dominant language, it is very easy for a child to go from being bilingual as a baby/toddler, to only speaking the dominant language once they begin school.

Unfortunately, this happen too frequently among first-generation immigrant families, especially in the Latino community. I see parents who speak zero to little English and their children who struggle to speak Spanish.

Not only does this cause hindrance in family communication, but it impairs the child from learning either language to the fullest potential.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 5: The earlier you start, the better

It’s never too soon to start speaking to your child in the target language. In fact, the earlier, the better.

In second language acquisition research, critical period hypothesis states that the first years of a child’s life are the most important to acquire a second language when presented with the appropriate amount of exposure. After the first few years, it becomes more challenging for a child to gain full command of the language and grammar.

Related: 20+ Interactive Bilingual Spanish Toys for Babies & Toddlers

Bilingual Parenting Fact 6: Don’t forget about the culture

If you are not exposing your child to the culture behind the minority language, there is no point in trying to raise a bilingual child. Expressions are cultural, sense of time is cultural; everything about a language is cultural.

Brian Oaster states it perfectly: “ If we look at language as simply a network of words and phrases, language learning becomes lifeless and robotic. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but such an approach would omit layers of meaning behind the words.”

Besides language and culture being inseparable for language acquisition, exposing children to diverse cultures impacts the way they think, behave, and affects their relationship with others.

The Conversation has a great article that goes further in detail about the connections between culture and language. It is a topic I would love to research more in detail because, from my point of view, traveling and living in other cultures was the motor behind my language learning. It also made me more empathetic and understanding of the world and the reality that third-world countries face.

To this day, I still learn new cultural distinctions in the way Carlos talks, moves, acts, eats, etc.. For example, sometimes, when he is signaling something, he uses his lips instead of pointing as I would have done. This is a nonverbal cultural difference, and understanding it is just as valuable as understanding verbal and written communication.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 7: Be playful

Adopting a playful parenting approach will be very beneficial in language learning. I find that when I am on the ground, playing with Lennox, he is at his calmest. It is also a great time to talk in the target language, about anything and everything. Act out a car chase, play with barbies, build a house, etc.

Karen Banes from Rose and Rex describes how playful parenting is beneficial in all parenting situations and that it has the following benefits; play fosters respect, lightens the mood, allows for the right type of attention, and sends a message.

One of our favorite types of play to encourage communication is loose parts play and sensory activities.

Related: 20 Loose Parts Outdoor Activities for Toddlers

Bilingual Parenting Fact 8: Code-switching is a thing

Code-switching is when you adopt words from one language when speaking another. A great example of code-switching is Spanglish.

Do not worry;

this is not a sign that your child is confused. Sometimes it is just easier to say things in one language, and it is the preferred word choice.

For example, Lennox has a hard time pronouncing gracias, so instead; he says, “tank you”. The same goes for por favor. He understands por favor and gracias; however, he has taken a preference for “tank you”, and “pwease”.

Related post: 10 Misconceptions About Raising Bilingual Children

Bilingual Parenting Fact 9: It may result in a delayed language development

Your child will be learning two vocabularies and cultures instead of just one, so this may cause delayed language development.

In Lennox’s preschool class, I would say Lennox is one of the quietest, verbally speaking. However, his actions speak way louder than his words. At a little past two-and-a-half, he is starting to form sentences that I can understand. From a bystander perspective, it might just sound like babbles. I had a friend ask me two days ago, “when is he going to start speaking?” This is a remark I get quite frequently.

*Update November 2020: Lennox never stops talking! He prefers Spanish but can easily go back and forth between languages. He also understands that he speaks two-languages and can compartmentalize each language.

Do not let a language delay discourage you from cotinuing your bilingual parenting. Some kids need a period of time to observe, but they are absorbing everything they hear.

Here’s some advice:

Be patient. Unlike monolingual children, bilingual children are learning two vocabularies and two cultures. Naturally, it is going to take more time to process and compartmentalize each language.

Talk, Talk, Talk. Talk as much as you can about everything. One of my favorite places to induce conversation is in the car. Lennox cannot run from me in his car seat, so I like to ask him about what he sees, or sing songs, etc. Find little pockets of quiet time throughout your day to talk.

Explain and Encourage. Due to delayed communication, some bilingual children will grunt, hit, or bite to protest. Get on eye-level with your toddler and explain the situation and encourage him to use his words to express himself. This tactic works to calm Lennox and to share his thoughts.

Repeat. Focus on different learning activities times and repeat the words over and over again.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 10: Your child might not be interested in speaking the target language

This is why it is vital to introduce culture and make the language learning experience fun. This will deter your child from loosing interest in speaking the minority language.

Establish norms around the house. For example, when Lennox says something to me in English, I celebrate his bilingualism, but I remind him that in our household, we speak Spanish.

I’m not sure what the future will entail, but I hope that he will follow my wishes and only speak Spanish at home. I will let you know in a couple of years.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 11: Siblings might not be as bilingual as the first born

Siblings might be exposed more to the dominant language through firstborn, which will then consequently cause the siblings to be less bilingual.

I have witnessed this phenomenon with my in-law’s children. Their oldest children speak Spanish very well, but once they start school, they bring home the dominant language and speak it around the younger siblings who are eager to emulate.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 12: You will receive pushback

There are so many myths and misunderstandings about dual language acquisition that you will get pushback from family, friends and society in general.

Don’t let this discourage you, let it add fuel your fire, and remind yourself of the many benefits of being bilingual.

Bilingual Parenting Fact 13: Lastly,

Thanks for sticking with me thus far. The last and best fact you need to know about raising bilingual children is that…

it will be the absolute best parenting decision you will ever make.

You are setting them up to be more successful, diverse, compassionate, and open-minded. They will grow up to be so thankful for your perseverance and dedication in their journey.

I am just so excited for you and want to take part in your journey. Please leave me a comment below with your thoughts/opinions/experiences on bilingual parenting, and don’t forget to subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter.

Related posts you might enjoy:

• Seven Ways That I Teach My Toddler Spanish as a Nonnative Spanish Speaker
• 10 Misconceptions About Raising Bilingual Children
• Strategies to Raise Bilingual Children

The post Raising Bilingual Children? Here are 13 Facts You Need to Know! appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.