The language development of preschool children learning two languages simultaneously is largely similar to that of children learning one language. This is contrary to common myths that assume that learning two languages prevents children from mastering either. Historically, children were encouraged stop speaking their familial language. Current practice supports the maintenance and growth of the familial language to support continued growth in the primary language of the community.
Language Development
Children learn language through daily interactions with parents and other caregivers. Bilingual children who experience daily exposure to both languages reach their developmental milestones at the same rate as children who speak one language. It is important for parents and caregivers of bilingual children to make a concerted effort to consistently expose children to both languages they want them to acquire.
Vocabulary
Although their overall language development is similar, bilingual children may appear have a somewhat smaller vocabulary in each language. This may be due to the limited amount of memory a preschool children have given that they are working to remember words in two languages. When the number of words they know in both languages is combined, the number is usually similar to that of monolingual children. They may know the same words in both languages, and sometimes they know vocabulary in one language and not the other.
Adjusting to Settings
Bilingual children will generally adjust the language they use to the setting they are in. In a preschool classroom where the teacher speaks primarily English, they will use that language with the teacher. However, if there are other children in the classroom who speak their familial language, they will likely use that language with those peers. If children spends an extended time in a setting where only one of their languages is spoken, they will tend to prefer that language for a time as they readjust.
Mixing Languages
Children learning two languages will often intermingle vocabulary from both as they speak. This does not mean they are confused about what words are in which language but that they do not have adequate vocabulary in one or both of the languages to express themselves clearly. This is considered a normal part of bilingual language development.
Supporting Bilingual Language Development
Children are fully capable of learning more than one language, and exposing children to both languages systematically is a key step to developing proficiency in both languages. Preschool is the setting in which the majority language of the community will be spoken more often. To maintain the familial language, parents and caregivers should continue to speak it in the home and expand the vocabulary to which children are exposed. This can be accomplished by actively conversing with children, labeling items throughout the household and neighborhood and reading books together.
