Children raised in bilingual homes are at an advantage when it comes to learning to speak. The earlier your child is introduced to a second language, the faster she will pick it up. In this global world, there are many benefits to speaking two or more languages. Most importantly, it will allow your child to communicate with her extended family and friends who speak another language. Raising your child to speak two languages can actually alter her brain development for the better. If you’re thinking about raising a bilingual child, here are some top tips to help you get started:

1. Do your research

There are plenty of books, blogs and articles out there full of advice that could help you on your journey. There are also plenty of on and offline support groups filled with parents on the exact same journey as you. The more research you do, the better prepared you’ll be when raising a bilingual child. Read the books, sign up to the blogs and join the parent support groups to help make this journey a little easier.

2. One parent, one language

Many families create a bilingual home environment by having each parent talk to the child in a different language. Whilst dad might speak to your baby in English, you yourself may speak Spanish. Consistency here will aid the development of your baby’s language skills. Of course, your baby will hear English frequently outside the home, but if you commit to always communicating in Spanish, this will help your baby to begin to understand both languages.

3. Frequency

In order to truly become bilingual, your child will need to hear both languages frequently. This means you can’t isolate one language to just an hour a day, both must be used frequently to give your baby the best chance at a bilingual start in life.

4. Connect with other families

Rest assured, you are not the only bilingual family in your local area. Look online for other bilingual parents to connect with. Setting up play dates with other bilingual families gives your child yet another chance to strengthen his language skills. Search online for a bilingual baby group in your local area. If you can’t find one, consider setting one up. All you need is a space to meet (it could even be your local park), a few toys and a handful of other families to meet up with. This will give your child another opportunity to see interactions in other languages.

5. Use resources

Even at a young age, babies love having bedtime stories read to them. Storybooks provide yet another opportunity for language development, so make sure you have storybooks in both languages. If you’re trying to teach your child Spanish, reading bedtime stories in Spanish is another great teaching tool. As your baby grows older, you may also want to watch Spanish speaking television shows together and use Spanish preschool apps to learn language skills.

Are you currently raising a bilingual child? Do you have any tips to share with other parents?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

We all want to raise smart babies. We want our little ones to grow and thrive and to have all the best opportunities available to them—we want them to reach their full potential. And the good news is, there is plenty you can do in those early months of parenthood that can help your little ones to get there!

No, that doesn’t mean popping in a Baby Einstein video and walking away—though, those videos are enthralling to most kids! Mostly, it means engaging and encouraging.

Your baby’s first year of life will be one of the biggest for brain development. During this time, their understanding of the world around them is growing at an unprecedented rate, and their little brains are making connections all the time. Here’s how you can help:

1. Chat Away: Really and truly, talking to your baby is one of the best ways to assist with brain development. Narrate what’s happening as you go about your day, sticking to simple phrases like, “And now we’re going to make dinner. Mommy is going to pour the water in the pot. Daddy is going to turn on the stove. Careful, we don’t touch, it’s hot!” Even if you don’t feel like your baby understands what you are saying, the more you talk, the more he or she will pick up. Don’t just stick to talking though; sing to your baby as well! Even if it’s just made up songs you compose your narrations with. Those variations in tone will help your little one to pick up on new words and make new connections along the way!
2. Play: Kids and babies often learn through playing, and getting down on the floor to play with your baby can be a great way to help with brain development. Peek-a-boo, for instance, is excellent for both brain development and your child’s understanding of object permanence. Rolling a ball back and forth, or stacking blocks, or simply using a doll to play pretend can all boost that development as well.
3. Engage: Make eye contact with your baby. Point to new and exciting things. Provide new textures to touch and feel. Have “conversations” by talking and then pausing to listen as your baby babbles back. Hold your baby and dance to music. Teach him or her sign language. Smile. Laugh. Be silly. The more your engage with your baby, the more he or she will learn how to respond and engage back—and those connections can be crucial for brain development.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.