The Life-Changing Benefits of Multilingualism for Children: Why Raising Multilingual Kids Matters in the Modern World

Introduction

How many languages can you speak? In a globally connected world, a rapidly growing number of people are becoming multilingual. By 2035, nearly 50% of kindergarten aged children in California will grow up speaking another language in addition to English. This is already taking place in other parts of North America, where some urban areas of Canada already see 50% of children under the age of 10 who are bilingual. 

Being able to speak another language, especially for young children, has numerous benefits for a child's development. The benefits of speaking an additional language follow children into adulthood. From enhancing their cognitive development and social skills to growing up with an appreciation for different cultures, it’s clear that creating an environment that helps your child become multilingual will be essential for their future. In this blog, learn about why you should set your children up for success by introducing them to new languages and practical ways parents and caregivers can achieve this, such as introducing a new language into your home by hosting an au pair.  

Benefits of Introducing Children to a Language at a Young Age

Think about how easy it is for a sponge to absorb water. From an early age, your child’s mind is like that sponge, where they absorb and retain all types of new information about new people, words, experiences, and everything around them. This is why childhood experts agree that the best time for children to learn languages is between birth and ten years old, and even observe that teenagers pick up new languages easily. This is why having a non-native English speaker in the house, like an au pair, is a great and practical way that parents can help introduce their children to a new language and culture. While it’s never too late for an adult to learn a second or third language, young children have a special cognitive advantage when it comes to achieving multilingualism. 

Early childhood is a crucial time for utilizing this early stage of brain development for learning a new language because babies and toddlers have a “plastic” or “flexible” brain – meaning their neural pathways and connections are still being established. Therefore, you can have young children learn languages before the brain becomes “less flexible” and the benefits of being multilingual extend far beyond knowing different words or having a “fun fact” about themselves. It is a skill that can and will positively transform their lives from childhood, all the way into adulthood. Having another responsible adult in the home caring for your children during the day, exposing them to a new language, foods and customs is the perfect way to impart a new language on these young brains. Imagine coming home to hear your child singing a song, counting, or even beginning to be able to converse in a different language.

Cognitive Benefits

The environment that children grow up in today is filled with different stimuli, technology and distractions that have been known to cause disruptions in childhood cognitive development. Researchers have discovered that there are many benefits of learning a second language at a young age. Children who are multilingual often show greater signs of cognitive benefits than children who speak only one language. Hosting an au pair for your childcare needs can provide some of these benefits for your children.

1. Executive Function: This is a term used to describe the “control center” of the brain. Studies have shown that multilingual children often show higher levels of executive functioning. Executive function skills include attention control, expanded memory, and cognitive flexibility. These abilities help children be able to multitask and are better at preventing distractions and filtering out unnecessary information – known as inhibitory control - than their monolingual peers.
2. Improved Cognitive Control: Researchers have noted that children tend to have better cognitive control, particularly in tasks that require conflict resolution. They have this advantage because multilingual children regularly practice switching between languages, which enhances their ability to manage competing information.
3. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Multilingual children often exhibit better problem-solving skills than monolingual children. The constant practice of switching between languages can help them develop more flexible thinking (a.k.a neuroplasticity!), allowing them to approach problems from multiple perspectives and find creative solutions.
4. Academic Performance: A bilingual or multilingual child may also face an advantage in academic performance over children who only speak one language. A study performed by Singapore Management University and Ewha Womens University found that pre-k to first grade bilingual students outperformed their monolingual peers in mathematical reasoning, word problems, and early number awareness skills.

The benefits of being bi or multilingual do not stop at childhood. There are many positive effects of multilingualism that translate into adulthood, one of which can even help prevent cognitive decline as they become older adults. A study of 253 Alzheimer's patients by UCLA determined that patients who spoke two or more languages were able to stall the effects of dementia by about four years. These cognitive benefits are just the beginning when it comes to the benefits that are observed in multilingual children.

Social & Emotional Benefits

A critical part of childhood development is how kids interact and build relationships with other people. Examples of this include creating empathy for others, regulating, and understanding emotions, and forming a sense of “self”. There are also hidden social advantages to being multilingual that many people don’t consider. When your child learns a second language, they gain a slight edge at developing advanced social and emotional skills, which are critical for young children.

1. ‍Emotional Resilience: The challenges of navigating multiple languages can build emotional resilience in multilingual children. They learn to adapt to different linguistic environments, which can help them handle change and uncertainty more effectively.‍
2. Increased Empathy: Children who grow up bi and multilingual often demonstrate higher levels of empathy. The process of learning and switching between languages involves understanding different perspectives, which can enhance their ability to empathize with others. Researchers have studied that bilingual preschoolers are thought to have heightened abilities to understand the thoughts, desires, perspectives, and intentions of others around them.‍
3. Broadened Cultural Awareness: Bilingual children have the advantage of understanding and appreciating multiple cultures. This exposure helps them develop a broader worldview, fostering an inclusive attitude toward diverse cultural practices and perspectives. What better way to broaden cultural awareness than by hosting an au pair! By having au pair childcare, you’ll gain the advantage of a young person from another country to live with your family, providing flexible childcare, and you’ll get to experience their customs, traditions and language! It’s a cultural exchange experience that benefits the entire family.

How to Help Your Child Become Multilingual

So, you’ve learned the amazing benefits of learning another language at an early age. Now comes the question many people face: How can you do it all as a parent AND ensure that your little ones can learn a new language?  Here are a few tips to consider when looking at ways to help encourage multilingualism in your children

1. Language in The Home: For monolingual parents, linguistic immersion in the home may be difficult. Enlisting the help of childcare options like hosting an au pair can be a wonderful way to expose young children to languages and cultures. While they help support your childcare needs, an au pair can also speak to your child in their native language and help support their language learning journey.
2. Bilingual Schools: It is known that the most effective way to learn a language is through full immersion, and what better way than enrolling them in a bilingual school! Bilingual schools help provide your children with the trained support and knowledge required to become fully bilingual and speak like a native in a structured and organized way.
3. Language Learning Apps and Classes: There are a multitude of apps and free online classes that can help enhance your child's progress towards becoming multilingual. While these apps may not fully teach your child a new language, they can help support your child’s learning in a fun and engaging way. Pro tip: You can ask your future au pair to provide their expertise in their native language and encourage multilingual learning by turning app-based study sessions into a game with fun prizes, helping motivate your child to study and practice the language.  

Conclusion:

There has never been a better time to ensure your child can be exposed and speak multiple languages. With mountains of evidence supporting childhood multilingualism and an ever-growing number of children who possess the ability to speak a second language, this is a skill that your child will utilize for years to come. By raising a multilingual child, you're not just teaching them words in another language—you're empowering them with skills that will be used throughout all stages of life, from academic success to future career opportunities. Embrace the journey of multilingualism and cultural exchange, and watch your child thrive in ways you never imagined.

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