A lot of young kids (from age 2 to 4) excitedly pull the straps of their backpack over their shoulders and go to a language immersion pre-school. The challenge begins as they try to absorb the new language being taught while trying to stay focused on their home language. If you want to help your child develop their language skills, you need to collaborate with their teachers. Here are some tips to support your dual-language learner.
Meet with your Child’s Teachers Beforehand
This will provide you with the opportunity to explain how your child communicates. Dual language learners differ and some may speak more languages than others. Take your time explaining how your little one uses language and the language they are exposed to at home so the teacher will choose the best approach to meet their needs. Also, this can help them put the behavior of your child in context.
Suggest Ways to Offer Support
With the diversity of most early childhood programs, teachers may not learn every language their students speak. This gives you the chance to contribute rich home language experiences. Consider offering to join the class and share a tradition from your home culture during special times of the year. Also, you can offer to share some of the books of your child with the class. Or send in empty food boxes or dress-up clothes from your home culture that kids can use for pretend play. The best dual language child care provider always welcomes support from parents and collaborate with them for more effective language teaching. The daycare center has attentive and loving staff that teach Spanish and other languages with an easy to learn approach.
Give your Child the Opportunity to Bond with Others
Building friendships can be challenging if you do not share a language. Schedule peer-play opportunities at home to nurture the growing bonds between your child and their classmates. Give the kids activities that do not need lots of languages but encourage shared play. Consider sensory play, musical instruments, or a shared art activity. Try to ask their teacher which kids your child seems to play with most.
Giving your child the opportunity to develop deeper, stronger language roots can benefit them across their lifespan. As you work with their teachers on home language problems, collaboration is necessary. Working together lets you help build a rich-language environment that your little one needs to develop strong language skills.