Many bilingual families want their children to speak more than one language.

Your home language is an important part of your culture, family relationships, and identity. Below are some important points to remember when trying to raise your child in a bilingual environment.

Importance of Consistent Exposure

For children to truly learn a language, they need frequent and meaningful exposure. If a child only hears a language occasionally (e.g., 1–3 hours once per month), it is very difficult for them to become fluent. Children learn language through repetition, interaction, and everyday experiences. If your child is exposed to English at school or daycare most of the day, it is especially important to continue providing regular exposure to your home language as well.

Here are some simple ways to incorporate more exposure to your home language in daily routines:

• Read books daily in your home language
• Sing songs together in your home language
• Play music in your home language during car rides
• Watch shows or movies in your home language
• Narrate everyday routines (mealtime, bath time, getting dressed) in your home language

The goal isn’t perfection or structured practice, it’s consistent exposure during natural interactions.

In summary, your home language is an important part of your child’s identity, family relationships, and communication. Providing frequent and consistent exposure to your home language can help them acquire it.

For more information and helpful tips, follow along in our 4 part blog series on Bilingual Language Development, written by a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist!