I have two beautiful daughters and like every parent, I want the very best for them. I love them wholeheartedly and my dreams for them are big. However, with so many options available to parents at the tip of our fingers, all the “good things” that I MUST do for them are sometimes overwhelming! But the reality is that each one of us has to pick and choose our battles. We have to know that even though we as parents won’t be perfect, our children will be just fine. One battle I did choose, however, is to raise bilingual children.

Why? Here are my research-based reasons:

1. Children’s Amazing Brains (They CAN be Bilingual)

We know that children have wonderful, beautiful, spectacularly amazing brains! Do you ever watch your child and become amazed at all of the new things they are constantly learning? It seems like every day they point out something new. I am often left wondering where they learned it.

It’s because babies are born ready to learn and one of the things they are wired to learn is language. We don’t actually have to teach our children to speak. They learn how to do so from observing and mimicking the world around them. While they are young, they have the capability to distinguish between and learn several languages using the exact same techniques.

Introducing a new language early increases the likelihood of bilingual children speaking like natives. However, it is never too late to begin learning a second language and the benefits are enormous.

 

2. Ongoing Brain Development

Learning more than one language can increase the size of the brain and it can also improve how the brain functions. In fact, research shows that people who speak multiple languages are better at standardized tests, planning and decision making, switching between tasks, understanding others and listening. They have better memories, impulse control, they are more creative and are better able to focus.

There was a time when people worried that teaching children more than one language would cause language delays and confusion. The science, however, has shown that this could not be farther from the truth. Learning a second (or third) language can actually give your brain a really good workout! In fact, studies even show that speaking multiple languages can help prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in later life. The benefits of “working out your brain” with a second language are effective whether you started young or you are learning it as an adult.

 

3. Increased Cultural Awareness in Bilingual Children

As I mentioned above, there was a time when teaching bilingual children a second language was thought to confuse them. Parents were discouraged from doing so and unfortunately many cultural ties were broken as a result of this misconception.

I was born in Venezuela and moved to the United States when I was eleven. Growing up, my environment was bilingual. My father spoke to me and my siblings in Spanish and my mother in English. In the same manner, I want to ensure my daughters have a connection to their roots. That’s why I am trying to re-create a similar environment to the one in which I grew up. I want them to learn Spanish. It’s not just because of the cognitive benefits and the opportunities that it will open for them, but also so they can experience the rich cultural histories shared by Spanish speakers all over the world.

Learning about the world and developing empathy for other cultures is one of the biggest benefits of learning a second language. It’s the gateway to communicate with others. It enables us to gain a deeper understanding of the world we share together. However, even if you do not speak a second language, I strongly encourage families to learn a new language together. Adults and children will definitely benefit from the experience.

If you want to read up on some of the research on children and bilingualism, check the following links out: http://www.cal.org/earlylang/benefits/research_notes.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/news/health-24446292http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121008082953.htmhttp://bebrainfit.com/brain-benefits-learning-second-language/)memoryhttp://bebrainfit.com/brain-benefits-learning-second-language/

 

About the Author

Keli Garcia Allen is a Spanish teacher and currently works as a Preschool teacher in a bilingual classroom. She also Homeschools her 3 bilingual children. She is the Head of Content for Learn Safari and is currently working on Spanish Safari,  an app for learning Spanish for kids 3-9 years old. You can follow her and the rest of the team on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.