Language Development in Infants in Bilingual Homes

Language development in infants who are raised in bilingual homes is not much different from language development in infants from single language homes. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says that there are many ways in which to teach children two languages, including speaking both languages to her from infancy. Bilingual children can learn to communicate effectively in both languages.

  1. Language Development

    • Many language development milestones in infants born to bilingual households are the same as those in single language homes. First words are usually spoken by the first year, two to three word sentences by the second year. A bilingual infant and toddler may mix grammar rules from the two languages, or may mix vocabulary in the same sentence. Also, if a second language is introduced, a young child may not speak for up to several months. This is considered normal by the ASLHA.

    Dominant Language

    • Sometimes children in bilingual homes or communities will develop an affinity for one language. This is called the dominant language. The dominant language may change. For instance, a child may speak mostly Spanish at home and mostly English at school. Within a few years, his dominant language may change from the Spanish he learned from infancy to the English he speaks more often. Parents who wish for their children to retain Spanish may choose to speak only Spanish with him at home, or consistently speak both Spanish and English.

    Bilingual Education

    • For those children born in homes where a different language is spoken than what is used in the outside community, many American schools offer bilingual education. This can be meant for English Language Learners, or for those who want to learn a language other than English. According to Eric Krashen, of the National Association for Bilingual Education, the purpose of bilingual education is to provide knowledge and literacy. It is the NABE̵7;s assertion that once a child can read in one language, the door is unlocked to reading in any language.

    Learning at Home

    • Parents can encourage their infants to develop multiple languages. Reading to your child, listening to music and watching television and movies in both languages will help bilingual development. There are also language camps that can help older kids develop multiple language skills. If you think your child is having difficulty in language development, the ASLHA says that it is best to communicate with him in the language that you are most comfortable with, and avoid making any sudden or dramatic changes to his routine. You can seek professional help if you believe your child is having serious language development difficulty.

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