👵👴 Your child's bilingual ability depends on their grandparents?!

Today, I would like to introduce a book titled “Children of Language” by Professor Ji-eun Cho, who graduated from the Department of Child and Family Studies at Seoul National University and is currently working as a professor at Oxford, and Dr. Ji-eun Song, who graduated from the Department of Linguistics at Seoul National University and is currently working as a researcher at UCL in the UK.

Reading this book reminded me of things I've learned and researched during my major. It was particularly fascinating, covering topics like language development, the effects of language spoken to the fetus, and the process of bilingual/multilingual language acquisition. Today , I'd like to talk about the impact grandparents have on a child's bilingual development .

While parents are often fluent in both their native language and the social language, grandparents are often only proficient in their native language. This means that spending time with grandparents provides an optimal environment for children to learn their native language. Even young children, like Sarah and Jessie , who are just beginning to speak, can naturally acquire Korean by conversing exclusively in Korean with their grandmother, who doesn't speak English.

We all know the saying, "Children absorb language like sponges!" Early childhood experiences, in particular, have a profound impact on a child's language development. In a bilingual environment, grandparents play a crucial role. Like hidden helpers, they can provide steadfast support throughout a child's bilingual learning journey.

Children's language skills blossom through interaction.

Children cannot properly learn language simply by listening to adults. Through constant interaction, they understand the nuances and context of language and learn how to express their thoughts. Grandparents are said to foster a child's language development by listening attentively to their child's words and engaging in ongoing conversations using a variety of vocabulary and expressions.

The Relationship Between Grandparents and Bilingual Development: Statistics

Grandparents can positively influence a child's bilingual development in a number of ways.

1. Expanding language exposure opportunities

In places like the United States, where English is dominant, children have limited opportunities to be exposed to their native language (or minority language). Grandparents provide a valuable environment where children can consistently use their native language, helping them acquire and maintain a balanced bilingual education.

2. Recognize the need to use language

Consistent use of the child's native language with their grandparents naturally fosters a need for it. This increases the child's motivation to learn the native language and fosters a sense of responsibility for maintaining it.

3. Read books in your native language

Reading to children in their native language is a significant boost to their bilingual development. In particular, stories and folktales told by grandparents have a positive impact not only on children's language skills but also on their emotional development.

4. Influence on family language policy

Grandparents' perceptions of language use can have a significant impact on the family's language policy. Grandparents' active support and involvement play a crucial role in fostering a child's bilingual environment.

5. Increase your language learning effectiveness with emotional stability!

Grandparents' warm love and attention provide children with emotional stability. This sense of security allows children to focus more on language learning and develop a positive attitude. Furthermore, interaction with grandparents has a positive impact on the development of children's social and cognitive abilities.

Please note!

How much of a role do grandparents play in a child's language development?

Grandparents who meet frequently and communicate consistently can have a positive impact on a child's language development. It's important to spend time with your child more frequently and consistently, rather than just once or twice a year.

A great tip for grandparents wondering how to play with their children!

Reading to your child is a great way to help them develop bilingualism. Embrace your child with warmth and love, and read to them in a gentle voice.

Teaching your child to be bilingual is a precious gift that goes beyond simply improving their language skills; it fosters an appreciation for and acceptance of multiple cultures.

Spending time with loving grandparents allows children to naturally learn their native language and experience a rich culture. I believe these experiences will create unforgettable memories for children and lay a solid foundation for developing a healthy identity. :)

 

Want more tips to help children in bilingual environments develop their language skills?

Check out the Everbloom Bilingual Handbook!

 

Reference:

Soler, J., & Roberts, T. (2019). Parents' and grandparents' views on home language regimes: Language ideologies and trajectories of two multilingual families in Sweden. Critical Inquiry in Language Studies , 16 (4), 249-270.

De Houwer, A. (2020). Harmonious bilingualism: Well-being for families in bilingual settings. Handbook of home language maintenance and development: Social and affective factors , 18 , 63-83.