Mistakes parents make raising multilingual children

We have covered eight mistakes that parents make when they raise multilingual children. Can you think of more?

What do you think? Do you agree? What is your experience?

1. Thinking your child will automatically become bilingual

Many parents think that just because they speak a language, their child will learn it easily. But that’s not true. Raising a bilingual child needs hard work and lots of patience. If you don’t put in the effort, your child might only understand the language but not be able to speak it. To help your child speak both languages well, you need to spend a lot of time with them. Talk to them, read with them, do activities together, and anything else that encourages them to use the language.

2. Assuming TV will teach your child a language

Kids learn language best through human interaction. Just sitting them in front of a TV won’t teach them much. If your child already knows some basics, watching TV or using apps can help, but it’s not enough. Talking, reading, and playing with your child are the most effective ways to help them learn.

3. Buying expensive toys and materials

You don’t have to spend a lot to raise bilingual kids. They don’t need fancy stuff. Just a few simple things to help them learn languages are okay. The important part is using them well to talk with your child. Reading books is great for this. When you read to your child, it helps them learn more words and understand better.

4. Correcting your child too much

By correcting your child every time they make a mistake you are stopping the flow of talking and disrupting them. While it is essential to correct important mistakes, it is important to know when to let some things go.

5. Thinking it is too late

Don’t ever think it’s too late! You can still introduce a new language to your child and give them plenty of exposure to become bilingual. It’s easier when they’re younger, but kids can learn a new language at any age, and so can adults, for that matter.

6. Listening to negative comments or myths

Some people might say raising bilingual kids is impossible or not worth it. There are lots of myths and misunderstandings about it, and everyone has their own opinion. The best thing is to ignore negative comments and focus on the positives. If you want your children to be bilingual, stay focused on that goal. Stick with the facts.

7. Giving up

Don’t give up!!! Keep going! Even though it might be tough at first, it will pay off in the end. Kids don’t learn languages overnight, so don’t expect quick results. They need to understand before they can speak, and that takes time. Consistently hearing words and phrases is key for them to learn.

8. Not being Consistent

One big mistake parents make with bilingual kids is not being consistent. If you have a plan, stick to it. Whether you use OPOL, Minority Language At Home, or another method, be consistent. Practice makes perfect, just like with anything else in life.