Photo by Artem Podrez
Did you know that bilingual books have a lasting impact on a child’s cognitive and emotional development? Learn how each of these books contributes to their capacity for learning and how they affect the child’s understanding of the world.
It’s a known fact that a bilingual children’s book is rare, and it hardly comes by. But the rewards for making your child learn multiple languages are worth it. Bilingualism in your child’s early years can reap many perks as they age. Children all have unique ways of learning, which will enhance their current intellect. They also pick up multiple languages faster than an average person. Additionally, we live in a world where we speak more than one language and live in various cultures.
There are concerns surrounding child bilingualism, mainly circling intellectual and emotional risks. Claims like it confuses a young mind, have been disproved because they failed to trigger confusion. On the other hand, it even promoted socio-cognitive advantages that regular monolingual training falls short of.
So if you’re starting to understand that child bilingualism can be good, we’ll explain further its benefits for their development.
Resources that could help with child bilingualism
Depending on what your native language is, it should be the one spoken the most at home. Especially when you’re not a native English-speaking family, your child can pick up English anywhere or as a second language in school. So if you’re looking for ways to teach bilingualism to your child, try each of these methods. Through them, you can see which learning style suits them best.
Bilingual Books
A bilingual book was born with the child’s advantageous development in mind. “Luisita is Sick” by Dora Pryzbylek is a children’s book about cancer that contains parallel English and Spanish texts. Such a format was used for the child to pick up words easier since they can be compared. Parents, especially those fluent in both languages, can better explain the nuances and contexts of the two.
Audio Books/Recordings
Auditory learning is one of the strengths that children possess. As they’re still absorbing information like a sponge, it’s crucial to consider letting them hear things first. Listening to audiotapes and CDs with no video is a good way for them to grasp diction, cadence, and pronunciation. Before they know what languages look like, they first understand what they sound like.
Videos, Movies, and Series
Cartoons, especially those spoken in a different language, are great learning avenues for children to learn a new language. There are children’s programs available in other languages as well. So even if you don’t get a copy of the original language, your children can still learn with your help. For example, the Peppa Pig cartoon is a massive hit among non-English speakers. Because of is primarily spoken British English language, kids have managed to say the same way. Exposing children to age-appropriate media with a different accent or language broadens their horizons.
Language Programs
While multimedia can teach kids different languages, enrolling them in a language program is also great. Not only do they learn new languages, but they also master their socialization skills and will master the language better by conversing with other kids. After all, learning a new language is best applied when talking with someone else.
Child bilingualism and beyond
Language development at any stage is a complex process, regardless of age. The learning environment and processes affect the child’s exposure to literacy. It also impacts their social interactions. Your child’s case is in a critical period where their learning capacity is at its highest. Therefore, parents must take advantage of this while their kids are still heavily absorbed in information and stimuli. It’s also the parent’s job to help their children acquire multiple languages in a healthy and nurturing way.