Bilingual
How are people coping with the bilingual development of their child, especially if only mum or dad speaks the foreign language? I am only speaking in my mother language (not English) to my child(2,5 years) and he gets everything, however he speaks so much more English, as he goes to an English speaking nursery and I see my child only in the morning, evening and weekends as I work full time. Any recommendations how to make my child speak more in their 2nd language? I read every night, try to play more non-English songs - however any advice how to actively help more, would be great.
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My bubba is 3 months and we all speak English around her but Portuguese natives on my side, only my parents speak Portuguese to her. Any songs I play or any sensory cartoons etc are strictly in Portuguese or Spanish. Putting on interactive shows that has the kids repeat after them or answer back in the language is a good way as it’s fun. Also interactive games would help too in the chosen language. Growing up my mum couldn’t speak English at all and only managed to fully speak it about 10 years ago so she only spoke to me in Portuguese and I managed to know how to read, write and speak it just from having Portuguese cable as we didn’t have Sky until I was in secondary school. I’m a teaching assistant and I’ve realised kids interact the best with other children so perhaps trying to find other families who’s kids speak the language would help as it would force the child to naturally communicate in chosen language!
Just continue as you are. Ensure that you only speak your language to them and encourage them to speak the same language back to you.
I am introducing my toddler to 2 languages, I don't speak either fluently or regularly, and I say 'in maori it is ....' in french it is ....' 'in English it is ....
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