Learning another language besides your mother tongue does more than just enable you to speak another completely different language: it also promotes healthy mental development and allows many cognitive and social benefits that will last a lifetime. While it is never too late to learn a new language, it also is never too early for your child to start learning as well.
Here are some of the reasons why learning a language during their early childhood years puts your child at a significant advantage, and how you can help them harness the skill with help such as from a bilingual preschool in Virginia.
- Provides a Good Head Start in Learning
Studies have shown that children who learn another language before age five use the same part of the brain that they use to learn their mother tongue to acquire that second language. Additionally, younger learners are uninhibited by the fear of making mistakes—making it much easier for them to learn. - Gives a Longer Time for Immersion in the Language
The length of time a student devotes to learning a language is directly proportional to the rate of cognitive development. Longer sequences provide the opportunity for children to grow alongside the additional language and culture, enabling a deeper connection as they mature. - Helps Develop Cognitive Ability and Mental Skills
Research shows that learning a second language greatly helps in a child’s problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, focus, and the ability to multitask. Children proficient in other languages also show signs of enhanced creativity. - Boosts Academic Achievement
The cognitive benefits of learning another language enable a positive impact on a child’s academic achievement. Bilingual children have shown to be more adept at reading, writing, and math skills, and generally, score higher on standardized tests. - Nurtures Curiosity and Cultural Sensitivity
Children who are exposed to other languages at an early age display a more positive attitude towards the cultures associated with those languages. The experience of learning a language also introduces them to the world in ways they might otherwise have not experienced. - Makes Venturing into a New Learning Experience Easier
Contrary to what most people think, young children are not confused by the introduction of multiple languages at the same time. Acquiring a second language early in their life primes the brain to learn multiple other languages—opening a world of opportunities in the future.
Being immersed in an early educational experience that bolsters their ability to learn another language can make a tremendous difference to your child’s success. That is why Early Steps Bilingual Preschool is one of the few preschools in Virginia that offers well-crafted programs and a bilingual curriculum to help your child’s overall growth and development. We believe that it is never too early to learn another language, which is why we also offer a versatile learning environment through our bilingual daycare in Washington, DC.
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