It is one of the most common worries for bilingual families: will two languages slow my child down? Here is what the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) says, in its own words.
No. ASHA answers "No" to whether learning two languages causes speech or language problems: "Children all over the world learn more than one language without developing speech or language problems." Multilingual children "develop language skills just as other children do".
ASHA says that "most multilingual children use their first words by the time they are 1 year old" and "by age 2, most multilingual children use two-word phrases". A bilingual child may know some words in one language and other words in the other, so it helps to count words in both languages together.
Source: ASHA, Learning More Than One Language.
If you are worried about your child's speech or language in any language, talk to your doctor or a speech-language pathologist. Bilingualism is never a reason to wait. EveryLingo is a vocabulary tool, not speech therapy, and it does not diagnose anything.
Children learn the words they hear often. Everyday talk, books and songs in both languages all count.
ASHA notes that for a child who is having trouble communicating, it is best to talk in the language you are most comfortable with.
Point and name: the cow, the ball, the tree. Short, calm repetition with pictures and sound brings the words back.
No. ASHA says "Children all over the world learn more than one language without developing speech or language problems."
ASHA says "most multilingual children use their first words by the time they are 1 year old" and "by age 2, most multilingual children use two-word phrases".
No one should drop a language without professional advice. Talk to a speech-language pathologist; ASHA notes it is best to talk to your child in the language you are most comfortable with.
There is a free version with no sign-up and no time limit: play the games with a starter set of words in any language or language pair, and make your own word cards too. Full access unlocks all 720+ words and more of your own cards for a one-time payment of $29.99 USD (lifetime) or $4.99 USD (1 month). No subscription.
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