11 Amazing benefits of raising your baby to be bilingual

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11 Amazing benefits of raising your baby to be bilingual

Thinking of teaching your child more than one language? Here’s why it’s a great idea

Published: February 21, 2021 18:54 Tabitha Barda, Baby & Child Editor

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Cute baby bilingual — IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO DO IT: While it may seem like learning overload to expect a non-verbal baby to learn not just one, but two or more languages, the timing couldn’t be better. “Between the ages of 0-3, the brains of young children are uniquely suited to learn a second language as the brain is in its most flexible stage,” according to researchers at Michigan State University. In fact, they add, bilingually exposed infants excelled in detecting a switch in language as early as 6 months old. “They can learn a second language as easy as they learned to walk and learn their primary language.” Image Credit: Shutterstock

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bilingual — THEY PERFORM BETTER AT SCHOOL: Research shows that children who can speak more than one language at an early age have improved overall cognitive abilities, which has a positive impact on other areas of education and results in higher achievement in the core subjects of mathematics and reading. Dr John Williams of The University of Cambridge says that, "For children, such 'implicit' language learning seems to happen spontaneously in the first few years of life; yet, in adulthood, learning a second language is generally far from effortless and has varied success." Image Credit: Shutterstock

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bilingual — THEY ARE MASTERFUL MULTITASKERS: "The ability to switch seamlessly between languages tends to make multi-linguists good multi-taskers, according to a study from Pennsylvania State University. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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bilingual — IT MAKES THEM BETTER AT LANGUAGE OVERALL: Research from the University of Chicago indicates that learning other languages improves native language speaking and communication skills, as the understanding and manipulation of grammar and sentence structure enables greater fluency in the home language. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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bilingual — THEY LITERALLY HAVE BIGGER BRAINS: Brain imaging tools show there is a physical difference in the brains of bilingual people, who have significantly more grey matter than monolinguals in their anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) according to 2020 research by the University of Reading. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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bilingual — IT GIVES THEM BETTER CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING: Learning another language gives you a unique insight into another culture, and a whole different vehicle with which to explore the history and heritage of its homeland. Especially if you are living in country where your own home language isn’t spoken, teaching your child your mother tongue can give them a special connection with their roots. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Child genius — BETTER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: In an increasingly interconnected world being multilingual is only going to get more important and valuable for career opportunities in your child’s future. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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BC Talking to child about race — ERASING PREJUDICE: "Having the ability and willingness to engage with many different kinds of people could help society in better understanding and addressing the many global challenges that the present and future face,” says Fiona Cottam, principal of Hartland International School in Dubai. “Through languages we might break down the bias and prejudice that threatens society so often and engage in a different type of dialogue: a new dialogue of multi-linguists that transcends boundaries, enabling our children to build their own brighter future." Image Credit: Image composite: Melany Demetillo-Reyes/Shutterstock

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baby — MORE FOCUSED ATTENTION: People who speak two languages often outperform monolinguals in terms of their ability to focus. Bilinguals can pay focused attention without being distracted and also improve in the ability to switch from one task to another. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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baby — GREATER SELF-CONTROL: When a bilingual toddler attempts to communicate, the languages in the brain “compete” to be activated and chosen. The child must select one and suppress the other, which requires attention and the ability for the brain to be flexible, - a form of self-control, according to Michigan State University. This is something all parents want to encourage in their kids! Image Credit: Shuttestock

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Baby — Baby Image Credit: Shutterstock

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