For more tips on raising bilingual children, visit Marie Demene's NYC playgroup for children ages 1-6: wwww.LePetiteClub.com
We listed the six most important tips for raising a bilingual child:
Tip #1 - Start Early: Did you know that up to 90% of brain development occurs before age three? – Babies and infants are highly receptive to language learning in the first years of life. Also, children who acquire a second language before age six are able to identify and incorporate pronunciation subtleties available only to native speakers. An early start will ultimately build the solid foundation for future language mastery.
Tip # 2 - Be Consistent: Whether playgroups, individualized tutoring or any other teaching pattern you choose, stick to it. Although children can learn two languages in what seems like chaos, a reasonable amount of consistency will make their job, and yours, simpler.
Tip # 3 - Provide a Rich Environment: This doesn't mean the children need expensive toys or special tools, but they need songs, bedtime stories, and other linguistic stimulation just as monolingual children do - except that bilingual children need it in both their languages.
Tip # 4 – Remember Active Learning: Language learning is a two-way interactive process. While language DVDs and CDs can serve as a positive and entertaining source of support for language learning, human interaction is the best method for fostering both first and second language development.
Tip # 5 – Put your child’s needs first: Children should not be forced into bilingualism if it really does make them unhappy; above all they should not be asked to "show off", which embarrasses children and makes them all too aware of being "different".
Tip # 6- Playing It Down: The more you can make bilingualism seem like a natural and unremarkable part of life, the more likely it is that the children will grow up to enjoy being bilingual, and the more likely it is that you will succeed in keeping both languages active in your home.
Visit our playgroup website for more tips.
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