Parents today recognize the immense benefits of raising bilingual or multilingual children. For many, it’s about preserving cultural heritage and fostering a sense of connection to family and tradition. Others value the cognitive and social advantages of bilingualism, such as enhanced problem-solving skills, greater empathy, and improved career prospects.
Yet, the path to raising multilingual children can be challenging. Parents often wonder: How should families balance a minoritized language (a language with less visibility or power in a society) with the dominant societal language (the primary language spoken in the broader community)? Should each parent take on a specific language, or should the home environment focus on one language exclusively? And if children don't achieve "perfect" bilingualism, is it worth the endeavor?
Six Approaches to Raising Bilingual Children
The following table outlines six well-established approaches to raising bilingual children. Each strategy includes a brief description, an illustrative example, an analysis of why the approach is effective, and potential challenges families may encounter. Link to table here.
Practical Strategies for Long-Term Success
Raising bilingual children is a long-term commitment that requires intentional planning and adaptability. The following strategies can help families maintain momentum while fostering language development:
Make It Engaging: Incorporate books, songs, games, and media in the target languages to make learning enjoyable.
Create Consistent Routines: Dedicate specific times to each language, such as reading bedtime stories in the minoritized language or using certain vocabulary and phrases to engage with bedtime routines.
Build a Support Network: Seek out communities, playgroups, or schools that reinforce the minoritized language. Connecting with other families who share similar goals can also provide motivation.
Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and reward achievements, such as using a new phrase or completing a book in the minoritized language.
Cultivate Intrinsic Motivation: Share about the benefits of bilingualism with your child, emphasizing cultural connection, cognitive development, and future opportunities. When children understand the "why," they are more autonomous and empowered in the process.
Model Lifelong Language Learning: Share your own positive experiences with the languages you are learning and/or passing down. Children often model their attitudes on their parents’ excitement and commitment.
In our family, we embrace a multilingual approach, speaking both Mandarin and English at home to the kids, with English spoken between parents, English/Mandarin/Cantonese spoken with different grandparents, and some Cantonese exposure from me to share another part of our cultural heritage. Living in the English-speaking United States, we have intentionally supported our daughters’ exposure to Mandarin from the start through children’s media, Mandarin-speaking caretakers, Mandarin-focused preschools, and now enrollment in a Mandarin-English dual-language immersion public school. We also strengthen their connection to the language and culture with visits to family in Taiwan and Hong Kong. While our children are multilingual, we recognize that their linguistic journeys will be different from our own and remain committed to cultivating their motivation to take ownership of their unique multilingual experiences.
What approaches have worked for your family? Share your experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re fostering bilingualism or multilingualism in your home.