This article will provide suggestions regarding the challenges of getting your children to speak multiple languages from birth. It draws on the advice of leading academics and language experts, as well as my own experience raising multilingual children under three different native tongues. The research shows that there are many benefits to being bilingual and multilingual: it can help with cognitive development, improve both verbal fluency and literacy skills, and even improve your child’s chances at finding a job later in life. However, while everyone agrees that learning more than one language is very beneficial for children, there are some pitfalls parents must be careful to avoid if they want their kids to succeed at this endeavour. So let’s get started!

Don’t look at every detail of your child’s progress

The important thing to remember is that your child’s progress shouldn’t be a competition. You want them to learn as much as they can, but you also don’t want them to be stressed out by the pressure of having to keep up with someone else’s pace or expectations. If your child is struggling with numbers, don’t worry—just encourage them and help them learn at their own speed. Focus on the present and let go of any worries about what might happen in the future; that way you can enjoy each stage of your child’s language journey together!

Do help your child speak a second language by speaking one yourself, if you can.

One of the best ways to ensure that your child learns a second language is to speak it yourself. This will not only help your child learn correct pronunciation, but it will also help with grammar and vocabulary. If you are serious about raising multilingual children, try to make sure that you are speaking the language correctly yourself. If you want your child to learn Mandarin by age 4, then make sure you’re speaking Mandarin yourself and not English!

However, don’t obsess over grammar and vocabulary

Don’t obsess over grammar and vocabulary. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of language learning, but it’s important not to forget that language is a process. Your children will learn what they need to know at their own pace; if you try to force them into something before they’re ready, you may end up with nothing but frustration. A good way to help them with common mistakes is by repeating the sentence correctly when you answer them. Don’t tell them what not to say, instead give them examples of correct language. You can help your child learn by talking with them about things that interest them—you’ll be surprised at how quickly their vocabulary expands when they’re having fun!

Being a solo multilingual parent is difficult

Ideally, it helps if you have access to other adults, or children, who speak the target language. If you are the only person who speaks the language at home, that would leave your child with no one else to learn from or communicate with. It’s important for them to develop their skills by hearing the language all around them and in the community at large. Whether it is a teacher, a coach, or someone in the neighbourhood, any additional exposure is good (in most cases). If you’re hoping to raise multilingual children in isolation, prepare for a real struggle.

Do expose your child to the sounds of other languages

This is where it’s helpful to have a native speaker around. If you don’t, find someone who speaks the language well and can help you out. There are plenty of classes on the market that teach parents how to communicate with their children in a foreign language from birth. You’ll also want to make sure that your child has books from both languages at hand so they can be read aloud to them as often as possible.

If you don’t have access to a native speaker or any other resources like books or classes, there are still ways you can expose your child to sounds they’ve never heard before and make it fun for them at the same time:

• Play games with words in different languages: For example, read out loud some animal names in English (like pig or cat) and then say them again but change one letter at a time until they sound completely different (piggy, kitty). You could even try looking up online which animals have similar sounding words in another language (e.g., school = école).

Do raise your child in an immersive environment

Speak the target language at home and with your child’s friends. Make sure they have access to materials in their native languages. Books are available from online shops and you can download portable formats as well. There is an enormous amount of language videos available as well. Finally, encourage them to pursue interests outside of school that are related to the culture of their native language communities.

Do participate in bi/multilingual events around you

Find events where you will be surrounded by people who speak the language you want your child to learn. In my area there are many places I can go for this purpose: restaurants, festivals etc… Food and communication, win-win! There are also online tools that can help me find out what events are happening nearby my city or town. This way I can make sure my children get exposed to the additional language on a regular basis!

Do adjust your expectations according to the literal age of your child

Another important factor is to adjust your expectations according to the literal age of your child. If your new-born is not yet speaking, don’t expect them to be able to say their ABCs. It’s a common mistake for parents to compare their baby’s starting point with another child who has already started talking, or who was born several months earlier than theirs. Be patient and remember that all children are different—they will all develop at different rates, so comparing them is pointless!

You can help ensure that your kids learn multiple languages from birth, as long as you avoid these pitfalls.

The best way to ensure that your children learn multiple languages is to avoid the pitfalls outlined above. Don’t look at every detail of their progress, don’t try to have a solo career as a multilingual parent and don’t obsess over grammar and vocabulary. Instead, expose your child to the sounds of other languages; raise them in an immersive environment (such as living with someone from another country); participate in bilingual events around you; adjust your expectations according to the literal age of your child; and help them speak a second language by speaking one yourself if possible.

If you have experience with multilingualism and/or multilingual children, I would love to hear them. Alternatively, if you have any questions or suggestions regarding other material on this blog, please get in touch via Linkedin!