Wonders of Raising A Bilingual Child
“Wow! You are raising a bilingual child. It must be easy for you because you speak the language…” a lady on the playground once told me. Is it easy? What do you think?
Easy is definitely not the word to describe the journey of raising a bi/multilingual child. I go with adventure. ADVENTURE is the word for parents who are on the journey to raising bi-/multilingual children.
Parenting is exciting, but we all know that and it can be challenging at times. Parenting in two languages is definitely rewarding, but it also requires some creativity from us as parents when we are being challenged.
Cooking with the Chef | Wonders of Raising A Bilingual Child
A friend of mine is raising her children in English and French. When we first met years ago she heard me speaking Mandarin Chinese to my two young children and she said to me, “You need to keep doing that even when they are older.”
Later, she told me that her mother gave up speaking Farsi to her when she was going through her rebellious “tween” years. She wished that her mother had kept speaking Farsi to her. She regrets that she is no longer able to communicate with her grandmother, who only speaks Farsi.
More than one in five people over the age of five speak a language other than English at home in the U.S., according to the American Community Survey. The number of bilingual speakers is only expected to increase in the coming years. The evidence of the cognitive health benefits of being bilingual is encouraging. Speaking another language is apparently like having a brain workout. This, in addition to the many doors, opened to multilingual people in their personal and professional relationships.
While you are on this bilingual journey, going through different phases with your child, make sure you are consistent. What you are doing with your child is wonderful. You need to be proud of your everyday efforts. As parents, raising a bilingual child is a gift we give to our kids.
The gift of learning the new language itself, however, comes with more positive benefits for our children.
I call them, the Wonders of Raising Bilingual Kids.
A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open.
– Frank Zappa, musician
Taiwan Summers: Chinese Langauge and Culture Immersion + Experiences
Learning a new language gives your child an opportunity to see things from a different perspective and provides them a way to experience a new culture. As a result, they become more understanding of peers who are from different backgrounds and respect them.
Curiosity
We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
– Walt Disney
Exploring world culture | South America
A new Language opens up the world. What kind of food do kids eat in China? How do you hold chopsticks? What is that Chinese musical instrument? When I hear questions like these I also see the sparkling, curious minds. The more curious our children are, the more open they are to learn about the world.
Young explorers
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. – Walt Streightiff, writer
Taiwan Summers: Chinese Langauge and Culture Immersion + Experiences
When she is ready with her new language, your child becomes a young explorer. In time she will immerse herself in the new culture and its values while interacting with its people. She will initiate learning on her own with the explorer’s mindset to understand more in the area that interests her with her newly acquired language abilities.
Cross-Cultural ambassadors
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. – Albert Einstein
Presenting in Spanish | South America
Cross-cultural understanding is an important skill in our increasingly global community. Speaking a new language leads to learning more about a new culture. It helps children to better understand our differences and similarities. Along the way, they learn to be more culturally sensitive and approach our diverse world with empathy.
Young Global Citizens
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. -Mark Twain
Taiwan Summer Camp with Local Children and Families | Taipei, Taiwan
When we are raising bilingual children we are also raising global citizens. Exposing our children to diverse books, listening to music from around the world, visiting museums, experiencing cultural festivities, and enjoying ethnic food and travel will all enhance their multicultural awareness.
When our children are old enough to do service projects their new language becomes a tool they can use to help out in the community. From observing and serving others they will learn to be kind, humble, and respectful of others. From one language to the other languages, from one culture to the other cultures.
Being bilingual/multilingual is a gift from you to your child. Keep it up and never give it up.
Related Resource: Summer Camps to Explore Mandarin Chinese for Families and Kids
Taiwan Camps for Kids a comprehensible guide from Mama Baby Mandarin
Taiwan Summer Camps documentation of family summer Chinese language and culture exploring of Mandarin Mama
Summer Chinese Language Camps for kids curated by Taiwanese American Site
Wonders of Raising A Bilingual Child