Benefits of Your Child Learning a Second Language

As a New York City-based school, we meet lots of students whose families are from all over the world. When it comes to language, at least half of our little ones are learning to speak more than one language at home. Playgarden Prep also implements languages, including Spanish, French, and German, into our early childhood education curriculum. Our morning dailies include our “Good Morning” song in English and Spanish. Learning more than one language at a young age has the potential to boost your little ones’ brain development, open their hearts and minds to different cultures, and contribute to their academic success.

Brain Benefits

Your little one’s brain is similar to a sponge — ready to soak up information and learn new things. Exposing your little one to multiple languages in their early childhood education gives them the chance to learn the languages at the same rate, leading to proficiency in each language. It is important to note that if your little one is multilingual, they may be slow to speak. Neuropsychologist Dr. Oren Boxer stated, “children who simultaneously learn two or more languages will initially be slower to develop vocabulary in each language compared to monolingual children.”

Open Minds and Hearts

Language is a part of culture, so culture is inherently learned while learning the language. Growing up with multiple languages allows little ones to build an understanding of multiple cultures, actively expanding their worldview. One of the best ways to connect with culture other than through language is through food! If you’re teaching your little one multiple languages, make some of the culture’s favorite dishes with them. Working in the kitchen together is great bonding and encourages picky eaters to try new foods. When your little one has a connection and appreciation for more than one culture, they are more likely to be empathetic and inclusive throughout their lives, not just within their early childhood education!

Academic Success

Because of the boost in brain function, multilingual students tend to succeed in academics. The founder and CEO of a Spanish-immersion education program, Kristen Denzer, states that when little ones grow up learning more than one language, “they show accelerated progress when learning to read compared with monolingual peers.” Studies have also shown that little ones who are multilingual have an easier time learning other languages as they get older. Imagine one day being able to communicate with people all around the world!

If you are a monolingual parent looking to teach your little one another language as a part of their early childhood education, learn along with them! There are great apps out there, Duolingo being a big one, that can help people who did not grow up multilingual learn new languages at their own pace.

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