11 Amazing benefits of raising your baby to be bilingual

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Parenting Pregnancy & Baby

11 Amazing benefits of raising your baby to be bilingual

Thinking of teaching your child more than one language? Here’s why it’s a great idea

Published: February 21, 2021 18:54 Tabitha Barda, Baby & Child Editor

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Cute baby bilingual — IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO DO IT: While it may seem like learning overload to expect a non-verbal baby to learn not just one, but two or more languages, the timing couldn’t be better. “Between the ages of 0-3, the brains of young children are uniquely suited to learn a second language as the brain is in its most flexible stage,” according to researchers at Michigan State University. In fact, they add, bilingually exposed infants excelled in detecting a switch in language as early as 6 months old. “They can learn a second language as easy as they learned to walk and learn their primary language.” Image Credit: Shutterstock

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bilingual — THEY PERFORM BETTER AT SCHOOL: Research shows that children who can speak more than one language at an early age have improved overall cognitive abilities, which has a positive impact on other areas of education and results in higher achievement in the core subjects of mathematics and reading. Dr John Williams of The University of Cambridge says that, "For children, such 'implicit' language learning seems to happen spontaneously in the first few years of life; yet, in adulthood, learning a second language is generally far from effortless and has varied success." Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Child genius — BETTER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: In an increasingly interconnected world being multilingual is only going to get more important and valuable for career opportunities in your child’s future. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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BC Talking to child about race — ERASING PREJUDICE: "Having the ability and willingness to engage with many different kinds of people could help society in better understanding and addressing the many global challenges that the present and future face,” says Fiona Cottam, principal of Hartland International School in Dubai. “Through languages we might break down the bias and prejudice that threatens society so often and engage in a different type of dialogue: a new dialogue of multi-linguists that transcends boundaries, enabling our children to build their own brighter future." Image Credit: Image composite: Melany Demetillo-Reyes/Shutterstock

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baby — MORE FOCUSED ATTENTION: People who speak two languages often outperform monolinguals in terms of their ability to focus. Bilinguals can pay focused attention without being distracted and also improve in the ability to switch from one task to another. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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11 Amazing benefits of raising your baby to be bilingual

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Parenting Pregnancy & Baby

11 Amazing benefits of raising your baby to be bilingual

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