How do you define multilingual children? First, let’s establish the definition of a multilingual child: a child who is learning two or more languages at same time. I believe that help establishing the growth of multilingual children is one of the best gifts we can provide to our children, which provides our multilingual children an edge to succeed in the global society.

In this ever changing state of economy, mastering just one’s native tongue is no longer enough in order to become a competitive member of society, thus leading to the importance of learning foreign languages.

What is success regarding raising multilingual children?

Since each individual child is different, and each individual family is different, thus the definition of success for help establishing the growth of multilingual children should also be different. The commonly established definition is that as long as the parents attempt their best to provide the languages rich habitat and motivate and guide their multilingual children as possible as they can. They will become successful parents who are helping establishing the growth of a multilingual child.

What is your unique situation?

Help establishing the growth of multilingual children can be a choice that some families make, while for other different families it is just a merely a part of their everyday life.

There are different types of multilingual families. In order to make the discussion easier, we hereby categorize them into four groups:

1. The family is originally a monolingual family, they just speak one language same as the physical residing habitat, but the family believes in the importance of speaking another different language and decide to raise multilingual children.

2. A monolingual family live in a different language habitat. Lots of immigration families are casers in this category. Raising multilingual children in the family seems in a very natural way.

3. A bilingual family in a same language habitat. For example a Spanish mother and English father residing in the United States. One of the parents speaks a minority language while the other parent speaks the majority language, which is the same as the physical residing habitat, and both languages are used at home. This kind of families falls into this category. Raising multilingual children in the family seems also in a very natural way.

4. A Multilingual family residing in a different language habitat. For example, a Chinese mother, and a German father residing and bringing up their children in the United States. Each individual parent speaks a language different to the majority language and the children are exposed at least to three language. Language that of the mother, the father, and that of the majority used in the educational facility and community with which the family is living in. Raising multilingual children in the family is the way of their living.

How do we successfully raise multilingual children?

The answer varies depending on each individual child and each individual family. What works for one family might not work for another different. It is necessary to find a unique way meeting your child and your family needs. The most important thing is to first understand your situation, relax, be happy with your child’s language development and enjoy the journey of raising multilingual children with your child and your family.

Here are some of the thoughts and tips that have been proved to be essential over time to help you raising multilingual children:

1. Define your own success for help establishing the growth of multilingual children by your own situation and needs. Set high goals to pursue, but have reality expectation.

In the reality, even if your child does not grow to become perfectly bilingual. You child will still retain the neurological, cultural and social advantages that a different language and a different mindset can provide him or her. You have provided your child the best possible linguistic begin in life; let him or her explore later.

2. Talk with your spouse or partners and make an agreement on help establishing the growth of multilingual children. Ask other different family members, such as grandparents to cooperate.

3. There is no one right way to do it. Each individual child is different, each individual family is different, and what works for some families may be unrealistic for other different. Attempt different methods to find out what works best for your particular situation.

4. There are two different methods for raising multilingual children:

• The person orientated method: One or more persons always speak to the child in a particular language.
• The time or place orientated method: The whole family always speaks a particular language in a particular place, for example at home or at a particular time for example in the evening or on Sunday.

5. Begin early as possible as you can. If you have a native language, speak it from birth and even during pregnancy with your child.

6. It is never too late to begin. The earlier the better, but if you provide your child rich language habitat, put in sufficient effort, you child can become really fluent.

7. To help your child to develop listening and speaking skills, talk to your child as much as you can; provide your child audio study materials such as podcast, CDs; video study materials, such as video cast, DVDs; visit relatives and friends who are saying the languages you child is learning; talk with the person who speaks the languages in your community; travel to the courtiers, in which the languages are speaking, if you have the opportunities. A Multilingual Talking Dictionary is a great tool helping us to learn and master the languages.

8. To help your child to develop reading comprehension skills, read to your child as much as you can. In addition, provide your child books, language learning games, find multilingual educational facilities to help you child on reading comprehension.

9. To help your child to develop writing skills, provide your child handwriting worksheet and writing composition worksheet. A multilingual educational facility or after educational facility program helps your child on writing.

10. Be prepared for difficulties. As your child grows older or as goals for proficiency progress from speaking and listening to reading comprehension and writing, you sure encounter some difficulties.

Confusion is normal for multilingual children. Your child may use more than one language in their sentences. Even when they make mistakes, they may sound confused, at some point. Don’t worry, just gently repeat everything in the language you want them to speak, your child will master the language.

Once your child begins educational facility, like any multilingual children, he or she will revert to the ‘dominant language’, the language taught in at educational facility. Parents speak in their mother different tongue and the children reply for example in English. Many parents make the mistake to provide up attempting and revert to speaking English themselves. Be prepared to make sure you persevere.

11. Make your effort but attempt to in a natural way. I believe what comes naturally is the best, because then you will be consistent. It is the only self-imposed rule that works. Help establishing the growth of multilingual children is a commitment. Language learning is a long-term investment in your child and will require that you are able to provide enough language exposure.

12. Find multilingual communities, share experience, learn and get motivated and enjoy in your help establishing the growth of multilingual children journey. If you relax, enjoy it and make it fun, your child will enjoy it too and be more likely to use their additional languages.

Parents, if you agree with me, let’s help our children to build a valuable skill they’ll use in numerous ways for the rest of their lives! Begin as early as possible in order to plant the seeds for greater success in mastering the languages and our multilingual children will benefit it in many ways for life. Our effort for raising multilingual children is the best gift we can give to our children!