Hello to all, my 19 month old son doesn't say anything except "mama". I was wondering if anyone has advice out there for raising a bilingual child. I have been speaking only spanish to him as to not confuse him. My husband is
Argentinean and his family does not speak English and I would like for my son to be able to communicate with them in the future, thus the introduction to Spanish first. Is it better to speak in one language only, or should I speak English to him at the same time?
He has taken his time for everything else, so maybe he's just that way and i shouldn't worry. We had his hearing tested and it is fine.
If you are concerned about your son's speech, you could get him evaluated (for free) through the state's Early Childhood Intervention program:
http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/index.shtml
Here's a better test - does he understand you? If you were to ask him to get the ball, does he? If you ask if he wants milk or juice - can he pick (verbally or physically by pointing)? If he understands the words, but just doesn't say them - he's doing okay. Just give him more chances to talk by offering choices (do you want the Diego sippy cup or the Car's cup? Crackers or cheese? etc.).
As far as bilingual goes, here's the rule I was taught. When speaking to your child - use only one language at a time, but both in a day. So if you're playing with him, don't say something in one language and switch to another in the same idea or sentence. So don't teach him bad English or bad Spanish. You can and should name things in both languages, but model which language goes with what name. So you can say "blue square," but not "azul square." When he does start talking, respond to him in the language he speaks to you in. If he switches back and forth in the same sentence, acknowledge him, but correct and go on. Lots of toddlers are bilingual and figure out quickly which words go with which language and how to use them properly. Language gets harder to learn the older you get - keep that in mind! :)
You can have him / her evaluated by ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) They work with all of my foster kids until they are 3. They are wonderful. You can find them online or let me know what county you are in and maybe I can help. If he / she needs speech therapy they will send a therapist to your house. They do all kinds of thereapies, occupational, physical, etc... Can't say enough good about them.
The bilingual issue would be a good question for them.
Hi, I am from Europe, we speak at home just our language Lithuanian. We have 4 years old son. 2.5 years ago we came to USA. Then he understood just our language.
Now he is speaking and understand fluently both languages. I never teach him english, he learned by himself from TV and from his friends-children. I just needed to keep on that he would say words and grammar. And then he turned 3 years old he started to talk to us in lithuanian, and with others in English.
So I would suggest let him watch movies in both languagies, and the best it would be to meet sometimes children, who are speaking both languages...
Good luck!
Children are learning so fast!
My good friend Norma (hispanic) and her husband (white) Have a 3 year old. Right off the bat, she spoke both languages. It is very interesting to watch this toddler walk up to white grandma and speak english, and in turn, walk up to hispanic grandma and speak spanish. He just knows. Noone had to tell him. One day Norma even said to me , watch this. She asked him a few q's in spanish, he answered in spanish. Then the same with english. I would say do both. These little people are sponges. They can retain so much more than us adults.
Good Luck!!
Margaret :)
P.S. He never talks to his Dad in spanish. Even at a young age he knew Dad would not understand him. Go figure!!!
