Reading for Multilingual Children Ages 4–6 – Developing Self-Esteem and Language Together

Once a child grows up to a certain extent, books become a place where they can think about and understand not only their language development but also their culture, identity, and what it means to be 'themselves'.

The years 4–6, in particular, are a crucial time for children to begin to choose their own language, understand stories more deeply, and establish the first roots of their identity.

At this time, children can develop critical thinking skills by thinking about the language they use and pondering where their identity comes from through reading activities with their parents.

Today, we're going to talk about how to introduce books to children at this age.

1. Let your child choose the language he or she wants to use.

Ages 4–6 are the time when children begin to read independently, without parental intervention. One important thing to remember at this time is to respect your child's language leadership by asking, "What language do you want to read?"

But what if your child only wants to read in one language or in a language they are comfortable with?

1) Set language by date

Try assigning a language to each day with your child. You can even let your child choose. For example, Monday and Wednesday = Korean, Tuesday and Thursday = English, and Friday = Spanish. You can set a reading routine that suits your child's needs.

If reading every day is difficult, consider establishing a rule where your family reads only books in one language each week—perhaps English one week, Korean one week, and French one week. If parents work together to establish a rule, it's easier for children to follow.

2) Create a language-specific corner

Rather than randomly mixing books, consider creating separate bookshelves or small corners (e.g., "Korean Story Time" and "English Story Time") for each language. This will allow your child to focus on one language in each specific space.

This helps children gain more natural and active exposure to languages ​​they are unfamiliar with or may otherwise resist, and provides opportunities for them to discover more engaging books in those languages ​​(comics, books featuring diverse characters, etc.). Furthermore, even at a young age when children are not yet able to deeply consider their identity, the experience of choosing their own space and language can lead to confidence and a positive attitude toward language.

Reference: Wagner, C.J. (2022). Multilingualism and reading identities in prekindergarten: Young children connecting reading, language, and the self. Journal of language, identity & education, 21(6), 423-438.

2. Read and discuss fairy tales that reflect the culture of that country.

During this period, books can be used to convey cultures that children cannot experience directly.

1) Reading fairy tales that reveal cultural background

Let's take a French book as an example.

In stories like Chien Bleu, about a feared "blue dog," readers will naturally encounter the symbolism and metaphors characteristic of French sensibilities , as well as the value of acceptance of differences . By expressing diverse perspectives and emotions through language, readers can cultivate social sensitivity and empathy.

2) Connect with real-life experiences of the family

"Alsatang" is a book that depicts Korean sentiment and warm intergenerational relationships . The book vividly captures the emotional background of "maternal grandmother," "father's childhood," and "neighborly affection," as well as the family-centered culture .

When reading, you can add stories like, “This happened to your grandmother too,” or “Who in our family would like to eat this candy?” to talk about your child’s experiences, family stories , and culture .

3. Compare the same book in different languages.

In a previous post, I discussed the benefits of comparing the same book in multiple languages ​​(https://shorturl.at/TDa2z). Reading the same book in multiple languages ​​and discussing how the two languages ​​are similar and different greatly enhances a child's linguistic sensitivity.

Please ask yourself these questions:

- Here, this scene is called 'enormous'? How do you say it in Korean? In Japanese?

- Is the English word "hurricane" also called "hurricane" in Korean? What is the Spanish word for it? What about "Huracán" in other languages?

Questions like these help children move beyond simply accepting linguistic differences to thinking about the nature, structure, and meaning of language for themselves.

It's crucial to understand not just the language but also its origins. How about reading this month's book together so your child can naturally grow into a healthy individual who respects various cultures and has a sense of pride that "I and my languages ​​are special."