Connecting with Your Child in Both Languages: A Guide for Bilingual Parents
“The beauty of bilingualism is not in how precise the languages are spoken, but the natural way in which the child speaks the languages.”
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Connection is everything.” That is pretty much the plain ol’ truth. When you connect with your child, you are building pieces of who they are- socially, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Believe it or not, the language(s) we speak are also tied to connections we carry within ourselves, whether it be cultural, linguistic, or any other part of our identity. As our therapists at Little Fish are also bilingual learners, we can strongly attest that your child’s connection to the language has a direct impact on their motivation to learn and to fortify their desire to be a dual or multilingual learner.
There are a few key things to consider when determining which language(s) you want to introduce to your child:
How important is this language to our family as a whole?
What is our level of connection with the language?
Who do we speak this language to?
Why do we want to raise a bilingual child?
Once we evaluate ourselves and the dynamics of our family, then we can better understand what raising a bilingual family actually means to you and your loved ones.
Once we evaluate ourselves and the dynamics of our family, then we can better understand what raising a bilingual family actually means to you and your loved ones.
You are probably asking yourself, “What are some tangent ways that I can connect with my child in dual languages?”
Here a few of our favorite ways to connect:
Facetime calls/visits with family members.
Intentional connection via storytime- either bilingual books or taking turns reading books in different languages (visiting the library or bookstore can make this extra special)
Watching movies/shows in different languages.
Partaking in special classes geared toward intentional language use/exposure (Bilingual play groups, immersion classes, etc.) or play dates with friends.
The beauty of bilingualism is not in how precise the languages are spoken, but the natural way in which the child speaks the languages. Sometimes, families choose the one parent, one language approach. Other times, families choose speaking the language in specific situations or maybe, when it feels right. There is truly no one “right” way to raise a bilingual child; however, there is a “best” way, which is through consistency and connection. All it takes is: YOU!