Why Bilingual Homeschooling?
There are many options that a parent has when it comes to the education of their children. While every American child can receive a public education, many parents are making the savvy decision to take their children’s education into their own hands. Public school education begins for a child when he or she is around six years old. Several studies have shown that a child’s education can begin long before that time. Since that is the case, you, as an informed parent, do well to look into homeschooling your children. Homeschooling is even more of a plus if you are trying to give your children a bilingual education.
More Benefits of Bilingual Homeschool
In many European countries, children learn their native tongue and English from an early age. This is something that is beneficial not only to a child’s own development, but it is also beneficial for them as adults. Bilingual individuals have more work opportunities, and also they have the opportunity to meet and converse with people from diverse backgrounds.
What Are Some Tips for Bilingual Training?
#1 Start Teaching Early
The first thing that you want to do is start teaching early. You can begin with your children when they are as young as two. This is the age when you should be teaching the alphabet. Letter A worksheets are a great way to get your toddler into the habit of memorizing the alphabet. The alphabet is the most basic tool needed in order for your children to learn to read and write at a young age. Start by giving your children letter toys and cards. As your children pick up and play with the toys, you can repeat the letters to them. You can alternate the languages on different days or weeks. That way, your children will learn the alphabet in both languages. Do not worry that your children will get confused, children’s brains are constantly in development, and they are quick to pick up patterns. As you continue to teach your children, they will learn to memorize and learn the alphabet in both languages without difficulty.
#2 Read To Your Children in Both Languages
In order for your children to understand and learn both languages, you do well to read to them in the two languages. Studies have shown that when parents read to their children, their ability to read, think, react, and understand is greatly enhanced.
#3 Watch Programs and Listen to Music in Both Languages
If you want your children to learn two languages, it is good for them to watch children’s programs and listen to music in both languages. In this way, they will see learning a language as something that is fun and not as a chore. This helps them to get into the pattern of understanding and speaking in two languages.
#4 Get a Bilingual Tutor
If you want your children to be bilingual but you are not bilingual yourself, you do well to get a regular tutor in the second language. This person should teach your children the basics of the second language. The tutor should only speak to your children in the second language. At the same time, you want to reinforce the second language that your children are learning by following the tutor’s tips.
You Can Have Success in Your Children’s Bilingual Education
If you are an informed parent and you know the importance of your children’s education. It may be a challenge for you to teach your children at home, but the benefits outweigh the challenges. When you see that your children are learning and thriving in both languages, you will appreciate all of the hard work that you put into their bilingual homeschool education.
