University of California -- Spanish Broadcast and Media Services
Today many children grow up in homes where parents
speak more than one language. Many parents wonder: is
it good to teach my children a second language? Will
it confuse them? Will it slow their development?
Studies
show that children can use what they learn in any
language. There is no question that knowing more
than one language gives children an advantage.
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Start
as early as possible. The younger the children, the
easier it may be for them to learn a language. Sometimes
children learning two languages learn fewer words in each
language at first. But they will catch up by the time they
are 4 or 5 years old.
Make
learning fun. Do not punish or force children to learn
another language. Use
books,
games, songs, poems and riddles.
Children learn language best from someone who speaks it well.
Speak to your children in your native language. Use the
language you know the most. This way the children can keep
the two languages separate.
Do
not speak baby talk in any language. Take time to explain
a word that your children do not understand.
Find
playmates for your children that speak the same second language.
They prefer to use the language of their playmates.
Remember,
children learn a language by playing with it
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
material is based upon work supported by the Extension Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, under special project number
91-ESPN-1-5169
.
Produced
by the University of California's Spanish Broadcast and Media
Services, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Myriam
Grajales-Hall, coordinator.
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