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Bilingual Children
Is it OK to speak more than one language to my toddler? I speak both Spanish and English, and I want my child to learn both. But I don't want to confuse her.
A Many good studies have shown that simultaneous bilingualism-raising children to speak two languages at the same time-doesn't cause or contribute to speech delays or speech-language problems. Some kids that learn two languages at the same time may learn fewer words of each language at first, but within just a few months these kids catch up, often surpassing the speech skills of their single-language peers by kindergarten.
Babies and toddlers have a unique gift for language. They can learn human speech just by listening and copying. The best way to help young children learn to speak any language is to speak with them. Talk about what you're doing, and what they're doing. Discuss what you see and what you hear. Give them a chance to answer back, and repeat back to them what they just said in a friendly waynever in a tone of correction, even when they mispronounce things. It can be helpful to speak just a little slower and a little more clearly, but you don't have to over-exaggerate your speech.
Reading books out loud together is also a powerful way to reinforce and encourage speaking skills. The more live, interactive human speech developing children hear, the better and faster their speech development can be.
Bilingual couples (or couples with one bilingual member) should embrace their second or third language. Speak it just as much, if not more, than English. Kids growing up here in the U.S., even without English-speaking parents, grow up speaking English well. If you want your kids to learn a second language as well as a native speaker, it's best to start "teaching" them when they're very young.
Send your questions to [email protected] or Pediatrics for Parents, PO Box 219, Gloucester, MA 01931. Please keep them general in nature as we can't give specific advice nor suggest treatment for your child. All such...