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Expert Q&A
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| By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist | ||
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My 15-month-old son attends daycare where the caregivers only speak Spanish to him. At home, as a single mother, I only speak English to him. While it appears as though he understands both languages, he is not speaking either. He only speaks one-syllable words like ôMa Maö for Mommy or ôBa Baö for ball. Does raising bilingual toddlers delay their speech?
There is a lot of research regarding bilingualism and language development. In most situations, children can learn both languages easily. The early years of a child's life is when language is developing fast. Research suggests that this is also a good time to introduce bilingualism. Sometimes as a child develops he/she may become confused of when and where they should speak English or Spanish. If this happens, you can tell your child that, "we use English at home and Spanish at daycare."
Additionally, if a child is experiencing a speech and language delay/disorder, then two languages may be too challenging for them. At this point, I often tell parents of bilingual homes to choose a primary language so the child can develop a good understanding and use of one language to communicate.
Currently, your son is just starting to develop language, and you are providing him with a great opportunity to be bilingual. If you are concerned that your son is not using your primary language well, then you should ask that your daycare provider only speak English to him."
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