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For Families

In an increasingly diversified world, more and more children find themselves in an environment where more than one language is used. With life changes that involve moving to different parts of the world, parents can feel overwhelmed by the linguistic demands on them and their children.

What can parents expect of their children? Do parents have anything to contribute to the process of early language development? Does it confuse children to learn two or more languages at once? Do children have to be especially intelligent to be able to cope with more than one language?

On this page you'll find research based answers to such questions and more so that your family can experience harmonious bilingualism.

Request a consultation


Here you can get research-based insights from experts on early multilingualism and multilingualism in general.


  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Articles and Links

Podcasts

Is there a language delay for young bilingual children?

by Dr. Annick De Houwer | A bilingual upbringing is never a reason for a slow language development.

https://www.habilnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Habilnet-Podcast-Language-Delay-01.mp3
en,https://www.habilnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Habilnet-Podcast-Language-Delay-01.mp3;nl,https://www.habilnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Habilnet-Podcast-Taalvertraging_-01.mp3;de,https://www.habilnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HaBilNetPodcast1Sprachverzögerung.mp3;fr,https://www.habilnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HaBilNetPodcast1Retard.mp3

Hello! This is Annick De Houwer.

For over 40 years I have been doing research into how young bilingual children develop language. It still amazes me that there are many people out there who think that hearing two languages from a very young age slows down the overall language development process. Let me assure you: it does not. Children who grow up bilingual and so hear two languages from an early age develop at least one of their languages at levels you would expect for their age. There is no overall language delay in young bilingual children. You do have to worry, however, if your child is not saying words in any language by the time she or he is one and a half, or if she or he is not stringing together words into little sentences in any language soon after the second birthday. Not speaking at all or not saying sentences can have several causes, but please, let nobody tell you that it is the bilingual setting that is causing that. A bilingual upbringing is never a reason for a slow language development.

Thanks for listening, and stay tuned for more podcasts about early bilingual development from HaBilNet!

Click here if you want to read a scholarly publication that addresses the issue of language delay in young bilingual children.

December 23, 2019

Videos

New book with advice for parents in bilingual families

An interview with its author, Jürgen Meisel

HaBilNet Director Annick De Houwer interviewed Advisory Board Member Jürgen Meisel about his recent book entitled Bilingual children: A guide for parents.

Les enfants bilingues

Ce vidéo en français montre comment les enfants puissent être bilingues d'un jeune age. This is a video in French showing how children can be bilingual from a young age. Made by Annick De Houwer, a researcher specializing in bilingual development in children. Thanks to the Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen for the technical support and to students there for recording material.

Prof. Dr. Annick De Houwer über Inklusion und Partizipation

Während des vierten IFP-Fachkongresses "Inklusion & Partizipation – Vielfalt als Chance und Anspruch" am 26. und 27. Juni 2013 in München wurden Referent*innen interviewt. Hier steht Prof. Dr. Annick De Houwer, Universität Erfurt, Rede und Antwort (auf Deutsch).

The importance of home language maintenance

Many children who grow up with several languages do not actually speak a language their parents speak to them. This interview explains some of the causes and effects. Dr. Ludovica Serratrice (University of Reading) was interviewing Dr. Annick De Houwer (University of Erfurt; HaBilNet Director). HaBilNet wishes to thank Dr. Serratrice for making this video available.

Tweetalige kinderen

Dit is een nederlandstalige video die laat zien hoe jonge kinderen tweetalig kunnen zijn. This is a video in Dutch showing how children can be bilingual from a young age. Made by Annick De Houwer, a researcher specializing in bilingual development in children. Thanks to the Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen for the technical support and to students there for recording material.

2

Show More VideosHaBilNet YouTube Channel

Articles and Links

Below you find short articles and links that will help your family on its way to harmonious bilingualism.

Bilingual Children Who Understand two Languages but Speak Only One

A session with special guest Professor Janice Nakamura

Interview
In this video interview Janice Nakamura talks about "receptive bilingual children", that is, bilingual children who only speak one of the languages they hear and understand.
She also discusses how particular conversational responses from parents can successfully foster the active use of both languages.

Mehrere Sprachen griffbereit

Ein Sprach- und Familienbildungsprogramm in 27 Sprachen

Mehr über Griffbereit

 

Video

Griffbereit ist ein Sprach- und Familienbildungsprogramm für Eltern/Familien mit und ohne internationale Familiengeschichte und ihre Kinder zwischen einem und drei Jahren. Im Fokus steht die Eltern-Kind-Interaktion zur Stärkung der (mehr)sprachigen Entwicklung. Die Mehrsprachigkeit der Kinder wird dabei als Chance und Potenzial aufgefasst. Vor allem Kindertageseinrichtungen, Familienzentren und Familienbildungsstätten nehmen bislang am Programm Griffbereit teil.

Bei den meist wöchentlich stattfindenden Treffen werden speziell entwickelte Griffbereit-Materialien genutzt, die den Eltern alters- und entwicklungsgerechte Anregung zu Sing-, Spiel- und Sprachaktivitäten mit ihren Kindern bieten – auf Deutsch sowie in ihrer Familiensprache. Die Materialien stehen aktuell in 27 Sprachen zur Verfügung. Und da die Treffen in der Einrichtung stattfinden, haben die Eltern die Möglichkeit, die Lebens- und Lernorte ihrer Kinder früh kennenzulernen und aktiv mitzugestalten.

Geleitet werden die Griffbereit-Gruppen von geschulten, meist mehrsprachigen Elternbegleiter*innen. Als Personen mit ähnlicher Familiensituation und gleicher Sprache werden sie schnell als Vertrauenspersonen angesehen. Elternbegleiter*innen sind z. B. freigestellte pädagogische Fachkräfte, Studierende, Fachkräfte in Elternzeit, Sprachförderkräfte und häufig auch ehemalige Teilnehmer*innen.

Weitere Einrichtungen und interessierte Eltern mit Kindern im Alter von 1-3 Jahren sind herzlich eingeladen, am Programm teilzunehmen und eine Griffbereit-Gruppe zu gründen! Für ältere Kinder von 4-6 Jahren gibt es ein weiteres Programm: Rucksack KiTa.

Mehrere Sprachen im Rucksack

Ein Programm für die alltagsintegrierte Sprachbildung in der Kita und zu Hause

Mehr über Rucksack KiTa

 

Video

Rucksack KiTa ist ein Sprach- und Bildungsprogramm für Familien mit Kindern zwischen 4 und 6 Jahren. Im Fokus steht die alltagsintegrierte allgemeine und mehrsprachige Sprachbildung.

Die teilnehmenden Eltern treffen sich 9 Monate lang wöchentlich in der Kita. Bei den Treffen erfahren die Eltern, wie sie ihre Kinder über spielerische Aktivitäten in der allgemeinen und sprachlichen Entwicklung stärken können. Dafür werden Aktivitäten zu bestimmten Themen aus dem Alltag wie z. B. „Essen und Trinken", „Der Körper", „Kindertageseinrichtung" und „Familie" besprochen und eigens für das Programm entwickelte Materialien verwendet, z. B. Arbeitsblätter, Puzzlekarten, Hörspiele und Bilderbücher. Die Spiele, Lieder und anderen Aktivitäten führen die Eltern anschließend zu Hause in ihren Familiensprachen mit ihren Kindern durch. In der Kita werden dieselben Themen später ebenfalls behandelt – in deutscher Sprache.

Angeleitet werden die Elterntreffen von qualifizierten Elternbegleiter*innen. Sie leben interkulturelle Zusammenarbeit und ein offenes Miteinander vor und stellen gleichzeitig eine Brücke zwischen Bildungsinstitution und Familien dar.

Die bisherigen Erfahrungen haben gezeigt, dass sich durch die Rucksack KiTa Gruppen die Kommunikation zwischen Kita und Eltern verbessert, sich die Eltern mehr für das Kita-Leben interessieren und sich stärker engagieren. Die Kinder wiederum profitieren von einer intensiveren Eltern-Kind-Interaktion, werden in ihrer emotionalen und sprachlichen Entwicklung gestärkt und finden im Anschluss an die Kita einen leichteren Übergang in die Schule.

Weitere Einrichtungen, die Kinder im Alter von 4-6 Jahren betreuen, sind herzlich eingeladen, am Programm teilzunehmen und eine Rucksack KiTA-Gruppe zu gründen! Für jüngere Kinder von 1-3 Jahren gibt es ein eigenes Programm: Griffbereit. Ansprechpartner für beide Programme ist bundesweit die Landesweite Koordinierungsstelle Kommunale Integrationszentren (LaKI).

Language Friendly Schools in the Spotlight

Rutu Foundation

The Rutu Foundation fosters multilingual education projects that use children's home languages in various countries worldwide. Its mission is to make education in children's home languages the norm rather than the exception. This does not mean that children should be offered education in their home languages only. Rather, it means creating equal education opportunities for all children, and letting all children benefit by becoming fluent in their home languages as well as in the societal language(s).

Language Friendly School

In 2019, the Rutu Foundation launched the Language Friendly School project. Any school willing to create an inclusive and language friendly learning environment for all students can take part. A Language Friendly School wants all children to have access to a language friendly learning environment where they feel accepted and valued for who they are. This means, of course, that no child is punished for speaking her or his home language at school. It would be great if this goal can be universally reached by 2030, the United Nations' deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals.

All schools – primary and secondary, private and public – are welcome to join and enjoy the benefits of being part of the network, which, amongst others, gives access to multilingual teaching strategies and materials.

Picture by Africanstorybook.org

Bilingual story books for young African children – an amazing initiative

"Open access to picture storybooks in the languages of Africa. For children's literacy, enjoyment and imagination." – These are the touching opening words of an open licence digital publishing initiative called African Storybook.

The African Storybook initiative (ASb) uses storybooks to promote literacies in the languages of Africa. Almost 2,000 storybooks in 221 languages from A for Acholi to Z for Zarma have been developed and published since the start of the project in 2014. Readers can choose a language and different reading levels such as first words, first paragraphs, or longer paragraphs and download the story in different formats.

Find Storybooks

Saide

In addition to the website, two easy to use apps, the African Story Reader App and the African Story Maker App are available for free. This way, children and their families need neither a computer nor computer skills to read, translate, or create a new picture storybook. Also, the apps allow for offline use of the storybooks.

Videos and written guides provide step by step instructions on the use of the resources. Additionally, in depth guides provide detailed information on topics like how to translate a storybook professionally or how to create a storybook with children.

ASb says: "Writing a story and developing a storybook are rewarding processes involving a range of activities and competencies that can be used for language and literacy teaching. The process of storybook creation is also a way for children to reflect on their life experiences and to make meaning of those experiences."

The whole project is run by Saide, a registered Non-Profit Organisation governed by a Trust and based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Interview

How speaking effectively to your child fosters language development

Children can only learn to speak if parents and other carers speak to them. But it matters a great deal how people speak to children and how much they do so.

Watch this interview with HaBilNet Director Annick De Houwer on "How can parents of bilingual and multilingual children make the most of the time they have with them to maximise the language exposure?".

You will find some important tips to help optimize your child's bilingual development!

Bilingual picture books in 1001 languages?!

Find Books

Video

Bilingual picture books in 1001 languages for free – is that possible? It is, thanks to a charity called Bücherpiraten (Book Pirates), located in Lübeck, Germany.
Its core aim is to enable children and young people to experience literature creatively and independently. Book Pirates has created a database for bilingual picture books written by children, for children, involving children and young people across four continents. A network of volunteers translates the stories into as many languages as possible. Families and anyone who wants to promote reading can download the stories in any two languages and various formats.
You can find a very clear presentation of the work by Book Pirates through this German video with English subtitles.

Raising Bilingual Children in Germany

Two Personal Accounts by a Mother and a Father in a Polish-German Bilingual Family

Mother (Polish-German)

Father (German-Polish)

Are you from Poland or do you speak Polish? In these two videos, Tanja Mlynczak and Marco Mlynczak talk about their experiences as part of a Polish-German bilingual family in Germany and some of the challenges involved. They also describe the influence of the 2020 COVID-19 crisis on their bilingual family life. Ms. Mlynczak speaks mostly Polish to her two sons, while Mr. Mlynczak speaks German with them.

Watch the mother's video in Polish with German subtitles and the father's video in German with Polish subtitles on our youtube channel.

books

Learning how to Read and Write in Two Languages

A Blog Post from our Series "Consultants Sharing Insights"

Yes, it is important to talk a lot to children in two languages to support their bilingualism. But what about reading and writing in two languages? Find out in this blog article by HaBilNet member and consultant Janice Nakamura.
Japanese Calligraphy

This is the Secret to Success in Raising a Bilingual Child

A Blog Post from our Series "Consultants Sharing Insights"

Do you want to know the secret to success in raising a child that is actively bilingual? Find out more in this blog post by HaBilNet member and consultant Adam Beck.
Video

Adam Beck's LiveChat

Tips for parents

HaBilNet is very grateful to have Adam Beck on its consultation team! Find out more about Adam and the tips he has for raising bilingual children in this "LiveChat" with Tiara Harris recorded on May 24, 2020.

Tweetalig opvoeden

Download

Dit artikel uit 2008 vroeg het Belgisch tijdschrift Knack aan Annick De Houwer: "Is een tweetalige opvoeding een voordeel of raken kinderen in de war als ze in hun baby- of peutertijd worden geconfronteerd met twee talen?". Lees hier wat het antwoord was!

Taking advantage of staying at home with your children during the COVID-19 crisis

Like so many other parents world wide, you are probably stuck at home with your children during the current COVID-19 crisis. It is a difficult time for everyone. Check out this blog article to learn how this may be also be a time of opportunity for your bilingual family.

Baby on the way….?

Are you expecting a baby in a setting that potentially involves more than a single language? This delightful book may help you on your way to raising a bilingual baby.
Note: HaBilNet usually does not endorse commercial products, but makes an exception for educational resources such as this one.
Download

Möchten Sie mehr zur mehrsprachigen Entwicklung wissen?

Hier finden Sie ein Informationsblatt.

Hold on to your language!

How would you feel if your child did not speak your language? You may never have thought about it, but many parents wish they had. Take a look at a brochure about the importance of holding on to your language here. You can choose amongst 26 languages!
Download

Hier finden Sie ein Interview mit Frau Prof. Dr. De Houwer zur harmonischen mehrsprachigen Entwicklung.

Intergenerational Language Transmission and Social Identity

Not only love at first sight but also love at first sounds

Why do some parents decide to speak their own language(s) to their children, and other parents don't? Find out about it in this recent blog by Dr. Ruth Kircher.


Resources of a more scientific type can be found here.


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