![]() Keep in mind that while they may not be producing language, their brains are hard at work absorbing the new input and learning new sounds, words, and sentence structure! Myth Busted: Bilingual Children have a Speech DelayĬhildren who are learning two languages may seem like they have a more limited vocabulary, but in reality, their vocabulary is usually on par with monolingual kids. Eventually, they will adapt and begin using both languages. It’s not uncommon for a sequential learner to revert back to using short sentences and phrases in their primary language, or not speak at all, for a period of time while they adjust to the transition. Speech delay when a bilingual child emigrates to a different country This usually happens when a child starts school where a different language is spoken or if the family emigrated to another country. If a child has their primary language established and then starts to learn a second language, they are considered a sequential bilingual learner. Kids that learn a second language once they have learned a first language: Sequential Learners Simultaneous bilingual children are able to differentiate naturally between the two languages early on. ![]() The parents use their native language whenever speaking to their child, which means they are getting exposure to two languages from the beginning. Typically, the parents speak different languages such as Spanish and English. This is when a child learns two languages from the moment they are born. But let’s look at two different bilingual speech development situations Two Types of Bilingual Language Development Bilingual Kids born into a bilingual family: Simultaneous Learners ![]() So as a bilingual parent you are dividing the language learning time into two, while a monolingual child is focusing all his or her time on learning vocabulary for one language. Let me use an example: A Spanish-English speaking child will learn two words for “dog” – “dog” and “perro” – and as always the amount of exposure to a specific language will help the child develop more vocabulary in each of his or her languages. Just do the maths, they are spending half time with each language in comparison to monolingual children. Bilingual children are learning two sets of words for the same objects, which is why it can often seem like they have a speech delay. They are exposed to the same vocabulary time and time again. Monolingual children have one language that they’re learning right from birth. Even better if you can find an expert that has experience with bilingual kids. Many monolingual children have speech delays, too! However, no matter what if you’re concerned about your child’s language development, seek the help of a speech-language pathologist near you. By 2 years old they should have a vocabulary of up to 50 words and be able to say 2-3 word phrases.īilingual children might have a slight speech delay, but it’s usually only a matter of a few months before they catch up. For example, a child 12 to 17 months of age should be able to say 2-3 words and have a vocabulary of 4-6 words. Stanford Children’s Health gives us some idea of normal language development milestones. A delay is usually noticed when a child is around other kids the same age but doesn’t seem to be making as much progress. A speech delay is when a child’s language or speech isn’t progressing at the expected pace for their age. But don’t worry! We’re breaking down this myth and discussing what is really happening when a bilingual child is slower to speak than other kids.īefore we get into myths versus facts, let’s go over what a speech delay is. These last ones, we hear a lot from bilingual parents and the rumor still prevails that bilingual children often have speech delays in comparison to monolingual children. Why is he not crawling yet? Has she eaten enough? Is he the right size? Should she be talking by now? Does she maybe have a speech delay? When our child seems to not be reaching these milestones, it’s easy to become worried. The first few years of our child’s life are spent tracking milestones and celebrating their accomplishments. As parents and caregivers, we’re constantly concerned about our children’s development.
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