Raising children to be bilingual has many advantages, but it also comes with its own set of challenges that parents should be prepared for. With proper support and commitment, the rewards of bilingualism can outweigh the difficulties.
Benefits of Bilingualism
There are several cognitive, social, and cultural benefits that come with raising kids to be bilingual.
Cognitive Development
Numerous studies show that bilingual children often demonstrate better executive function, focus, problem-solving skills, and mental flexibility than monolingual peers. Juggling multiple languages appears to give their brains a real workout!
Career Opportunities
In our increasingly globalised world, knowing a second language can open doors career-wise. It’s a skill that’s attractive to employers and can set a CV apart. Fluency in languages like Mandarin, Arabic, or Spanish may provide particular advantages depending on the field.
Preserving Family Ties
Passing down a heritage or community language allows children to communicate with extended family and immerse themselves in that side of their cultural background. This helps strengthen family bonds. Bilingualism helps pass on family traditions and values.
Better Cultural Understanding
Knowing another culture encourages more open-mindedness and empathy. Bilingual kids are exposed to different worldviews and ways of thinking. They can bridge cultural gaps and interpret between communities.
Challenges of Raising Bilingual Kids
While beneficial overall, raising bilingual kids also comes with unique challenges that parents should be aware of.
Time Commitment
Achieving true bilingualism requires commitment from the whole family. Children need ongoing interaction and support in both languages. This means parents/carers and relatives speaking the minority language consistently, even when the child prefers to respond in the majority tongue.
Potential Language Delays
Children learning two languages from birth sometimes start talking a little later than monolingual kids. This is normal and they usually catch up quickly. However, some temporary mixing of vocab may occur. Parents should consult a speech therapist if concerned.
School and Social Situations
Once school starts, bilingual children may feel self-conscious about speaking their home language in front of peers. Additionally, they may not get academic support at school in their other language. Extra tutoring may help fill the gap.
Finding Resources and Support
Depending on the language, it can be difficult sourcing things like kids’ books, media, tutors, playgroups, etc. to help support bilingual development. The less common the language, the bigger this challenge usually is. Libraries and cultural organisations may have some materials.
Minority Language Attrition
If the majority community language dominates socially, many bilingual kids will prefer using that. Without ongoing minority language exposure at home, they may lose skills in that language over time. Visiting relatives abroad can help maintain fluency.
Making It Work
The key to raising bilingual children is establishing solid language foundations at home, while providing enough community support and input in both languages. This requires parental commitment.
If you are a foster carer hoping to preserve a child’s cultural identity through language, there are agencies like Active Care Solutions that will try to match children with carers who either speak their language or have the same ethnic background. This helps nurture the child’s mother tongue and connection to their roots.
With dedication from the family, plus access to schools, friends, activities, and resources in both languages, it is certainly possible to overcome the challenges of bilingual parenting. The long-term benefits for children make the effort worthwhile.
