It’s 2022 and only 11 months until Christmas! I hope your new year has already been blessed. Thinking back to Christmas, what was the best gift you gave to your child? Was it clothes or a book or that new toy this year? I say that you have already given the best gift – the gift of bilingualism. And it can be a life-long gift that enriches life.
Bilingualism is knowing two languages and being able to use them in a variety of situations (Gort, 2019). Teaching your child Spanish at home is your biggest contribution to his* bilingualism. Teaching him Spanish before the age of five while also exposing him to English, will make him an emergent bilingual, and bilingualism will be his dominant language (Escamilla el al, 2014). Bilingualism positively affects brain development and even diminishes dementia. Allowing him to study in both languages will make him a better, more flexible learner (Mohr, K., Juth, S. M., Kohmeier, T. L. & Schreiber, K. E., 2018).
In the extended family he will be able to communicate with everyone from the monolingual abuelos and the gringos added by marriage to all the bilinguals and semi-bilinguals in between. Economically he will have the possibility of better income because of his two languages. Most importantly, bilingualism complements his heritage and his two cultures. I might even go so far to say that it is his right – and your responsibility. By nature of his heritage and residence, your child is bicultural; he deserves to also be bilingual.
Congratulations! I applaud your gift-giving. Bilingualism is truly a gift – for the present and the future.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Listen to these bilingual children. What do you think? https://youtu.be/1FToY3BfHRU
How much Spanish is used in your home? Is there a way to increase that?
Think of one small change you could make to use more Spanish. Perhaps a designated “Spanish only” time or read-alouds or music listening are possibilities.
Leave a comment letting me know your plan of action.
*Note: I will switch between male/female pronouns per post.
References
Escamilla, K. et al (2014). Biliteracy from the Start. Philadelphia: Caslon, Inc.
Gort, M. (2019). Developing bilingualism and biliteracy in early and middle childhood.
Language Arts, 96(4), 229-243.
Mohr, K. A. J., Juth, S. M., Kohlmeier, T. L., Schreiber, K. E. (2018). The developing bilingual
brain: What parents and teachers should know and do. Early Childhood Education
Journal, 46, 11–20. DOI 10.1007/s10643-016-0833-7