Little Language Learners

As the country continues to diversify, and communication with virtually anyone in the world becomes more readily accessible, the ability to communicate in a foreign language could present some major advantages. But, learning a new language may feel like a daunting task. So when’s the best time to learn one? The earlier the better.

While almost all researchers agree that early childhood is the best time to learn a foreign language, some state that the peak learning period is before a child hits their 6th or 7th birthday. It is also believed that it becomes more difficult to learn a new language after a child has hit puberty.

Why start so young?

You may be wondering how a child who is only 3 or 4 years old, who hasn’t even mastered their native language, would have the ability to take on a second language. The first three years of life are considered to be an extremely vital period for building foundations for areas such as behavior, thinking, and learning. This period of life goes hand in hand with a natural ability to learn and retain information. At this age, foreign language can be taught through a series of games and prop use, so learning feels more like playing.

What are the Advantages of Learning a Second Language?

Learning a second language has several advantages beyond the obvious advantage of communication. Here are ten reasons why learning a second language can benefit your child:

  1. Bilingual children tend to perform better in noisy classrooms than singular language speaking children. Bilingual children develop the ability to filter out the unnecessary noise or information by enhancing the auditory brainstem response.
  2. Research has shown that bilingual speaking individuals are more likely to complete higher education, and earn more in the workforce.
  3. Bilingual children have shown a higher level of mental control when presented with experimental questions or problems.
  4. Studies have shown that bilingualism can carry advantages beyond language, and actually improve arithmetic, problem solving, and creative thinking.
  5. Bilingual children have shown an improved ability to hypothesize in scientific applications.
  6. Learning a second language may also improve the richness of a person’s language, with a greater understanding of what words actually mean.
  7. Learning a second language may also improve the ability to handle complex tasks or multi-tasking.
  8. Learning and speaking a second language is one of the best forms of exercise for the brain. Both languages are constantly ready to be used, so when speaking, the brain is tasked with choosing which language to use.
  9. Research has shown that bilingual individuals are better communicators, and in turn are often better listeners.

Being bilingual may have positive health effects such as delaying onset of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, faster recovery from stroke, and lower stress levels.

Ready to introduce your child to a new language?

Our Top 3 Connected Picks

1. Spanish4Kids- Rating: 4.8 Stars | Learn Spanish words and pronunciations by matching images and words together by following a story. Available on the App Store.
2. Pili Pop Français – Rating: 4 Stars | Master pronunciation all while having fun with several characters to choose from, and age appropriate difficulty. Available on the App Store + Google Play.
3. German4Kids – Rating: 4.6 Stars | Make learning German fun by incorporating this word and image matching story app. Available on the App Store.

Unplugged Activities

Cook the Cuisine!
Ready to learn a new language with your child? Immersing your child in the culture is a great way to create interest and excitement around the new language, and what better way to learn the culture than to eat it? Kids love to get their hands messy, so incorporate a lesson about culture in the kitchen. Try a kid friendly dish that is authentic to the culture, and have your child help prepare the dish. For example, if your child is learning French, spend an evening in the kitchen learning to cook crêpes. Learning spanish? Make authentic mexican tacos. Diving into Chinese? Whip up a Chow Mein as a family.

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