What are the benefits of children being multilingual?

Is multilingualism good for children? Can kids grow up multilingual? Of course, raising a multilingual child has several advantages. A person’s ability to communicate in more than one language is clearly an asset in and of itself. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, communicating fluently in several languages is an invaluable skill.

On the other hand, Multilingualism is more than what is on the surface. Numerous research studies have shown that learning a second language at an early age positively impacts cognitive development and can even rewire the brain. Learning two or even three languages simultaneously does not harm speech development. On the contrary, it may expedite the process of the youngster resolving the issue. Here are a few reassurances about the advantages of raising a multilingual child.

The advantages of growing up a multilingual child

• Improved focus and attention: When a youngster who is fluent in two languages tries to communicate, both of their languages compete greatly to be spoken. They have to switch between them in a split second. This ability allows students to concentrate and silence any other distracting noises in a busy classroom better.
• Mathematics and problem-solving abilities: Are multilingual kids smarter? Children fluent in more than a language usually have a sharper mind, making solving difficulties much simpler for them. Psychologists conducted a study and found that multilingual people have an easier difficulty classifying objects by shape and colour.
• The ability to think creatively and hypothesise: Multilingual children have an advantage in coming up with and expressing scientific concepts since their brains are used to decoding and understanding two or more languages.
• Improved vocabulary and language skills: Word reading and spelling are easier for children fluent in more than one language. This offers kids a leg up on their peers when it comes to acquiring languages in school.
• Exercise of the brain: Even when speaking only one of their languages, a child who is fluent in multiple languages keeps both sides of their brains engaged and aware. Cognitive capacities are enhanced since the brains are more active than a monolingual brain.
• Improved communication skills: Interpersonal understanding and listening are skills that multilingual children have honed, which allows them to be more effective communicators.
• Improved memory function: There are many things you must remember and be prepared to generate to learn two languages. This aids in the retention of critical information, such as schoolwork and important directions, in the minds of young people.
• Faster response time: You’ve probably noticed that when you give a directive to a youngster, they seem to take their time responding. Communicating in more than one language trains the brain to transition between them when necessary quickly. Consequently, the brain develops a habit of responding quickly and reacting quickly.
• Better social connections and family connections: You open up a whole new world of social possibilities when you learn a second or even third language. This skill is an excellent confidence booster and an excellent way to break the ice with new individuals.
• A willingness to consider new ideas: As a bilingual parent, you’ve already exposed your children to a higher tolerance level. As a result, they can feel compassion and empathy for those around them.

An important consideration

Do trilingual children speak later? Even at the age of two, some monolingual children may not be able to communicate much. Bilingual and multilingual children are no exception. A child’s trilingualism may be to blame if they don’t start speaking until later in life, in which case you should seek medical advice and allow your child extra time.

Conclusion

As a nursery which teaches French and Arabic, we believe that adult brains unfortunately lack the predisposition for the necessary development of language skills that children’s brains possess. If you want to raise a multilingual child or multilingual toddler, start your child’s multilingual education as early as possible, and you’ll reap many of the benefits we’ve discussed. The same abilities and strengths can be developed in adults through multilingual training, but at a slower pace and with a greater demand for tedious repetition. The ability to communicate effectively in diverse languages is critical, as is fluency in those languages. Most of these benefits can be seen in children who have made steady progress in learning two languages. A child’s capability to become fluent in a second language will be severely limited if all of their exposure to foreign languages comes just from cartoons like Dora the Explorer.

A common misconception about a multilingual child is that if he or she can speak more than one language will automatically translate into greater fulfillment in life. To say that multilinguals outperform monolinguals in all situations would be unfair. There are many smart, creative, and successful monolingual people out there. Parents need to give children something extra in touch with their lives, prepare them for their future careers and personal lives, and learning to speak multiple languages is as natural as learning to walk or crawl at an early age. A child’s ability to decipher a foreign language’s alphabet can be easily transferred to another. Although raising a multicultural family isn’t always easy, there are numerous advantages for the children as a result. Being able to communicate in more than one language has numerous advantages, as we’ve shown. Register your child at our nursery in Dubai which teaches three languages (English, Arabic and French) and enjoy the above benefits.