Families For Life | Raising Bilingual Children: Options and Tips-Young Children
Being bilingual means being able to understand and use two or more languages. In Singapore, many families use English alongside a Mother Tongue language such as Mandarin, Malay or Tamil. The approach you choose will depend on the languages spoken at home and your family’s circumstances.
Some families share the same Mother Tongue language and choose to use it mainly at home.
For example, parents may speak Tamil at home while their child learns and uses English in preschool. Similarly, a family may use Malay or Mandarin at home while English is used in school and the wider community.
Using your Mother Tongue regularly at home gives your child more opportunities to hear, understand and speak the language. This helps preserve family traditions, cultural identity and communication with relatives. Remember that speaking your home language does not slow down English learning. In fact, a strong foundation in one language can support the development of another.
Simple Ways to Support Your Child's Bilingual Development
Through Play
Young children learn best through play and daily interactions.
Read storybooks and tell stories in your home language.
Sing songs, recite rhymes and enjoy music together.
Play simple language games such as "I Spy", memory games or matching games.
Encourage your child to join in by repeating words, phrases or parts of a story.
Through Family and Community Activities
Arrange playdates with children who speak the same language.
Join cultural events and community celebrations that reflect your family's heritage.
Visit the library and borrow books, audiobooks or magazines in your home language.
Consider preschool programmes that support the use of both English and Mother Tongue languages.
At Home
Use your chosen language during daily routines such as meals, shopping and bedtime.
Include the language in activities your child enjoys, such as cooking, crafts, sports or favourite TV programmes.
Listen to songs, stories or radio programmes in the language.
Be patient and keep using the language, even if your child replies in English. Hearing the language regularly helps them learn and build confidence over time.
Every bilingual journey is different. Some children may speak both languages confidently early on, while others take more time. The key is to create regular, enjoyable opportunities for your child to hear and use both languages. With patience and consistency, your preschooler can develop strong language skills while staying connected to their family, culture and community.
Speaking of Children II: Dr Mukhlis on Strategies for Raising a Bilingual Child
In this video, Dr. Mukhlis explains how to go about raising a bilingual child. His advice: encouragement and consistent exposure to both languages! Watch on to find out more.