Christine Hernandez
Early childhood educator, writer, and mother. Your friendly neighborhood guide to all things parenting.
During your childcare search, you may come across programs with dual language classrooms or language immersion programs and wonder whether they're a good fit for your family. Often, parents who speak more than one language at home want their children to continue developing their home language and English, and bilingual education meets that need for families. What most parents don't realize is that bilingual education can be beneficial for all children, whether English is their first language or not.
Cognitive Benefits
Research has shown we are born with the potential to learn multiple languages. Babies are born with all the brain cells they will ever need, almost limitless potential. Over time, the brain starts to "hardwire" the most often used connections, and the cells that aren't needed die off. We know that this pruning of cells used in language development begins as early as six months of age when babies have more difficulty distinguishing sounds they are not exposed to regularly.
Early exposure to multiple languages allows the brain to create connections in the brain's language center, making it easier for the child to retain a second language. It's not impossible to learn a second language later in life; our brains constantly create new connections; it is just easier during those early stages of development. Since exposure to multiple languages leads to more connections in the brain, there are certain cognitive benefits to bilingual education, including:
- Memory- children who understand and speak multiple languages have been shown to have a greater memory capacity.
- Executive function- the ability to filter out relevant information, problem solve, and plan is stronger in children who speak more than one language.
- Protection against Alzheimer's- studies have shown that bilingual brains function better and for longer, even if they develop the disease.
Social Benefits
For children from monolingual families, exposure to songs, folklore, and expressions in other languages can lead to a deeper appreciation of cultural differences. If children live in an area where English is not the dominant language or more than one language is spoken, attending a bilingual school will help them navigate socially inside and outside of school.
For children from bilingual families, attending a school where both home languages are spoken helps maintain fluency. Since the language center in the brain is truly a "use it or lose it" situation, being immersed in multiple languages helps children stay connected to their culture and develop a stronger sense of self.
Future Benefits
Speaking more than one language opens doors for future career opportunities. The demand for bilingualism in the workforce is increasing rapidly, and studies have shown that individuals who speak more than one language may make more money than those that don't.
Bilingual education can help bilingual children maintain a connection to their culture and home language and has great benefits for children who come from monolingual households. As with all parenting decisions, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each program you're considering and choose what works best for your family.
Search for a bilingual preschool or daycare using Winnie.com.
