5 Reasons You Child Should Learn a Second Language in Preschool

Today our guest blogger is Anne-Marie Lovelock (aeryland0@gmail.com). Anne-Marie shares 5 Reasons Your Child Should Learn a Second Language in Preschool.

As a child, my father played a lot of Japanese speaking movies for me. Even now the phrases have stuck with me, years and years later. I can still pick out certain words from the language, and remember the meaning.

This leads to what I’m writing about today! Children learning languages.

But why should your child learn another language? Isn’t it just more trouble?

There are many reasons why you should pursue a second language for your child. Thankfully, I’ve organised them into five handy points for you.

1. Younger ages find it easier to learn

The language centre of the brain is still developing so it’s easier for your child to take in more knowledge. They also have less to learn because children use simpler language than us adults! Younger children don’t worry as much about making mistakes, which means they are more open to learning as well! In preschool, children interact with each other, developing their language skills. This ability increases their success rate in learning a new language because they’re not worried about being perfect.

2. Your child becomes more analytical due to keeping two language systems separate

When your child learns something in one language – find a word in a dictionary and so on – it easily transfers to the other language! It also improves their problem solving, critical thinking and listening skills. There are so many bonuses mentally to learning a new language.

3. Enhances your child’s development

It assists in strengthening their cognitive skills, meaning they learn more rapidly. They’re also more understanding, which leads to more opportunities than monolingual children don’t get. It can also enrich your first language, helping your child improve memory, concentration and multitasking (handy for when you want them to remember to do their chores or focus on homework)!

 4. Develop knowledge specific to the culture of the language they’re learning

Your child will come to understand the social, historical, and familial relationships in that culture. Research shows bilingual children are more understanding of cultural differences and think more creatively. They have increased empathy towards others, and more receptive to other culture and experiences. And because of the expanded language skills – they communicate more effectively with others. This could mean less arguing about toys and sharing which is always a bonus for them, and for how many headaches you deal with! If they’re learning a language in preschool, they learn the language while also learning to play with others. Handy, right? 

5. Better future career opportunities

Bilingual people have more possibility of getting hired. Not only does that mean their business won’t have to rely on Google Translate, but it’s also something to help your child stand out in job interviews. More skills mean more money, which again leads to more opportunities.

After all of these points, I’m sure you’re thinking seriously about helping your child become bilingual. However, it’s really hard to find the time to sit down and teach your kid anything these days, with the increased demand for more parents to work. So what can you do?

Luckily, a great place to learn in preschool and playgroups. Studies show that children can even learn languages naturally if they hear them frequently around them. And I’m sure, with the added language lessons there, your child will become the best they can be and make you proud.

If you would like to teach your children Samoan you will want to read Learn Samoan While You're on Lockdown