If English isn’t your first language, or you speak more than one language at home, you've probably battled with the question of how to best support your child’s English journey. Should you switch to English before your child starts school? Will learning two languages slow them down?
These are really common questions for families raising bilingual children, especially in a diverse community like Papatoetoe. But in our experience, children are remarkably capable of learning more than one language, and keeping your own language alive has benefits that go far beyond words.
Why your child's home language matters
A child's first language is usually the language of their family. It lets them chat with grandparents, hear stories from their culture, celebrate traditions, and express themselves with the people who know them best.
Research by The Education Hub shows that maintaining a child's home language helps strengthen their sense of identity and belonging, and provides them with a strong foundation for learning English.
Does learning more than one language confuse children?
Absolutely not. There’s a myth that multilingual children are slower to learn, but it’s just that - a myth.
We find that young children might mix languages in the same sentence or go through a quiet period while they're learning English, but the learning is still happening.
Like any new skill, language develops over time, and every child will get there at their own pace.
Easy everyday ways to support both languages
Any language expert will tell you that the best way to learn a language is by immersion. You don't need formal lessons or special resources when raising bilingual children, you just need to expose them to both languages as often as possible.
- Sing songs or nursery rhymes in both languages.
- Read a variety of books together.
- Talk during meals, shopping trips, or car rides.
- Encourage grandparents and extended whānau to speak the language they're most comfortable using.
- Share family stories, traditions, and celebrations in the language that feels most natural.
If you're looking for more ideas, we've also shared how storytelling and creative activities support children's development in our blogs on the Power of Storytelling in Early Childhood Learning and the Role of Music and Art in Early Education.
How Koru Kids supports every child's language
At Koru Kids Early Learning Centre, we're proud to create an environment that embraces the language, culture, and identity of our tamariki.
Across our Te Aroha, Mahira, and Pakiki rooms, kaiako naturally introduce English through songs, stories, conversations, and play while celebrating the many languages and cultures our families bring with them. Our approach that reflects the principles of Te Whāriki, where every child is encouraged to feel confident in who they are and where they belong.
Growing up with more than one language
Supporting your child's home language doesn't make learning English harder; it gives them more ways to connect with the people and place that they come from.
Give your child the best of both worlds. Discover how Koru Kids Early Learning Centre celebrates every child's language and culture through warm, play-based learning. Book a tour today to see our inclusive learning environment for yourself.
Or, if you'd like to learn more about our approach to culturally inclusive, play-based learning, you'll find answers to common questions in our FAQs.