How To Raise Bilingual Kids
One thing many multiethnic families are trying to figure out is how to teach their child multiple languages. Sometimes, it seems too hard, so parents drop a language. Most of the parents I've talked to that have done so regret it. They wish they would have taught their child to be bilingual from the very beginning.
What about you?
Are you teaching your child multiple languages? Are you nervous how to do it? Do you want some advice? If so, here are some tips to help your family raise bilingual children.
Tips For Raising Bilingual Children
Start Young
Start talking to your child in both languages right away. People tend to think it will create confusion, but statistics are showing that children are more successful in learning both languages when they start young.
Family Agreement
You and your spouse need to be on the same page. It will be much more challenging to teach your child to be native in both languages if one of you wants to teach your child a second language and the other doesn't. When you're both on the same page, you'll be more proactive in teaching them.
Make A Plan
After you've made the decision, you need to make a plan. Every bilingual family looks different. While your child will be able to speak multiple languages, they could be dominant in one. You need to decide what your family wants. If you want your child to be native in both languages, your lifestyle will need to reflect this.
This could mean you ask family members to only speak their native language to your child and have them respond in the same language. Think about how you can make it happen and make a plan your whole family can follow.
Don't Panic
Take a deep breath and don't panic. Teaching your child to be bilingual takes time. They might start to mix languages or take a little longer, but it's ok. Encourage them as they go and don't rush them.
Learn your stuff
Read up on bilingual families. Look on Amazon or your local library to find resources and hear from other families just like yours. The more you can educate yourself on what to do, the more successful your child will be.
Make it fun
The worse thing to do is make it all a big chore. If you can make it fun for your children to learn both languages, they'll be more willing to put in the work. You can buy games in both languages, listen to music, get apps, and play memory games. Show them how fun it can be to learn!
Talk to your kids
One of the best ways to teach your child a language is to talk to them in it! You can go for a walk, go outside, or sit down over dinner and talk. Make sure you and your spouse plan times throughout your day to sit and chat.
It doesn't matter if you and your family members are big talkers or not, it's important to be intentional in increasing how much you talk with your child in both languages throughout the day.
Read out loud
Kids love when you take the time to sit and read with them. Regardless of how old they are read multiple books out loud to them every day. There are even bilingual book companies that want to help you! The top is English, and the bottom is the language you choose.
Do you have any questions or advice about how you can teach your bilingual children? If so, please comment and share with us!
Multicultural Round Up #2: Top Posts For Multicultural Families
This week's Multicultural Round Up is full of great posts from moms around the blogosphere. They're all sharing about their multicultural families and I know you'll love them as much as I do!
Top Posts For Multicultural Families
Image Credit: Vanessa from De Su Mama
6 Myths Of Interracial Marriages According To A Latina Wife
Vanessa from De Su Mama does an amazing job at identifying some of the common things people think about interracial marriages. One of the myths that stood out to me the most was #6 All Interracial Relationships Are The Same. Every relationship is different because we as couples are different. It's important to understand how different our relationships are so we don't start comparing them to each other.
Image Credit: Stacy-Ann from Weather Anchor Mama
What You Should Know About Raising Biracial Children
I love this post by Stacy-Ann from Weather Anchor Mama. She talks about some of the key things multicultural families need to know, want to know, or are asking. She even has a great video at the end on some secret tips from her and her husband!
Image Credit: Mari from We Are That Familia
Parenting Biracial Children: 6 Tips From Moms Who Have Been There
This post is seriously amazing! It's a list of tips from moms with multicultural families. They all share advice and wisdom they've gained from years of raising multicultural children and being in intercultural relationships.
Image Credit: Ellie From Musing Momma
Dealing with Questions & Curiosity as Parent in a Mixed Race Family
Ellie from Musing Momma has been one of my favorites for a while now. She is a psychologist and a mom with a multicultural family. The advice she gives is amazing and practical. This post is all about questions parents of multicultural children get and how to respond.
Image Credit: David Martinez, Renee Loiz
16 Easy Ways To Raise A Bilingual Child
Pam does a great job over at Parents in giving us advice on how to raise bilingual children. Many multicultural families struggle to teach their children multiple languages because it can seem overwhelming. This post is full of fun and simple ideas!