• Join Now!
  • Community
    • Foodie Kids
    • Globetrotting parents
    • Mompreneur Series
    • News
    • About
      • Contact
  • Advice
    • Vacation Rental Directories
      • Plum guide Directory
      • VRBO Directory
    • Baby Passport Photo
    • Travel Health and Medical Advice
    • Planning A Trip With A Baby
    • Family Travel Photography
    • Budget
    • Flying with a Baby
    • Baby Jetlag
    • Entertaining Baby on Board
    • Hotel review
    • Travel & Packing Hacks
    • Responsible Travel with Kids
    • Big Adventures w/Little Ones
    • Raising global citizens
    • Staying Zen While traveling with Kids
  • Destinations
    • Vacation rental directories
      • Plum guide Directory
      • VRBO Directory
    • Family Road Trips
    • Train travel
    • Americas
      • California
      • Caribbean
      • Chicago
      • Florida and SE US
      • Hawaii
      • New York and the East Coast
      • Pacific Northwest
      • Latin America
      • Western USA
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Germany & Central Europe
      • Greece and the Balkans
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • London & the UK
      • Paris
      • Reykjavik
      • Spain and Portugal
      • Stockholm
      • The Netherlands
    • Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • Sydney
      • Tokyo
    • Middle East & Africa
      • Middle East
      • Southern Africa
  • Gear
    • Baby Carriers
    • Car seats
    • Compact Travel Strollers
    • Cribs and toddler beds
    • Fly beds
    • Food and feeding gear
    • Luggage
    • Travel accessories
    • Travel Apparel
    • Travel Services
    • Travel Toys & Entertainment
  • Shop
    • Favorite Brands
    • Travel gifts
    • Family Travel Books
Menu
  • Join Now!
  • Community
    • Foodie Kids
    • Globetrotting parents
    • Mompreneur Series
    • News
    • About
      • Contact
  • Advice
    • Vacation Rental Directories
      • Plum guide Directory
      • VRBO Directory
    • Baby Passport Photo
    • Travel Health and Medical Advice
    • Planning A Trip With A Baby
    • Family Travel Photography
    • Budget
    • Flying with a Baby
    • Baby Jetlag
    • Entertaining Baby on Board
    • Hotel review
    • Travel & Packing Hacks
    • Responsible Travel with Kids
    • Big Adventures w/Little Ones
    • Raising global citizens
    • Staying Zen While traveling with Kids
  • Destinations
    • Vacation rental directories
      • Plum guide Directory
      • VRBO Directory
    • Family Road Trips
    • Train travel
    • Americas
      • California
      • Caribbean
      • Chicago
      • Florida and SE US
      • Hawaii
      • New York and the East Coast
      • Pacific Northwest
      • Latin America
      • Western USA
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Germany & Central Europe
      • Greece and the Balkans
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • London & the UK
      • Paris
      • Reykjavik
      • Spain and Portugal
      • Stockholm
      • The Netherlands
    • Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • Sydney
      • Tokyo
    • Middle East & Africa
      • Middle East
      • Southern Africa
  • Gear
    • Baby Carriers
    • Car seats
    • Compact Travel Strollers
    • Cribs and toddler beds
    • Fly beds
    • Food and feeding gear
    • Luggage
    • Travel accessories
    • Travel Apparel
    • Travel Services
    • Travel Toys & Entertainment
  • Shop
    • Favorite Brands
    • Travel gifts
    • Family Travel Books
Search
Close
$0.00 0 Cart

Bébé Voyage’s Best Tips On How To Raise Multilingual Children

  • By Marley
  • February 11, 2021
  • Reading Time: 4 minutes
  • Please note that the article may contain affiliate links. Bébé Voyage may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
How to raise multilingual children

After a great live conversation with Bébé Voyage Co-Founder, Marianne Perez de Fransius, on how to raise multilingual children, we thought we could carry on the discussion by putting our thoughts onto paper. As a global team with many of us living abroad and speaking multiple languages, we had a lot to say on the matter. It was fun to find out how we differ on some things but how similar we are on others.

So, if you are starting out on this journey or simply want to compare ideas, here are our best tips on how to raise your children as multilingual speakers.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

One Parent, One Language Vs Code Switching

So, this is one that we simply could not agree on. Some of us are great rule followers and decided to go with the general consensus that each parent should stick to one language to give equal exposure and consistency. To be fair, this is a well-proven method and one that most people swear by. It also gives the opportunity to create an emotional attachment to each language by associating them with a specific adult. 

The others, myself included, prefer code-switching, i.e., switching between the languages as the conversation flows, simply based on what we feel is the easiest, most appropriate way of getting our points across. I am a big believer in this, our family is bilingual after all, and this is how we all speak to each other all the time, especially at home. So, I think it is important for my kid to learn how to do this as early as possible and also to know how cool it is to be able to do something like that without even thinking.

Friends Are Important

Exposure is key but also creating a fun environment and an incentive to speak the second/third language. Finding friends who speak the other language will give the kids plenty of opportunities to practice outside of the family members and also give them a chance to speak to their peers and expand their vocabulary through imaginative play. “In our experience, it helps if the kid has friends, or meet ups with other kids who speak the other language, so try to find a playgroup, or just one of two friends to practice with.” (Bébé Voyage Co-Founder, Marianne Perez de Fransius)

How to raise multilingual children
Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash


Visit The Country

Being fully immersed in the country of the other languages is probably one of the best ways to really give the other languages a big boost. Plus, it’s a great way to really explore the cultural heritage of those languages. We always see a big improvement in our kid’s Italian after coming back from a couple of weeks visiting the family in Italy. We have definitely missed these power booster visits in the past year.

 

Video Calls

In a Covid world, we know that traveling is not quite as easy or safe as it was, so in the meanwhile make sure to get lots of video calls in. Speaking to adults or children to whom they are emotionally connected, even if it’s only by a video call can really boost confidence and continue the exposure to the other languages. “Through the pandemic having Addie being able to speak and hear French from her teacher and her friends has been key to keeping it up.” (Bébé Voyage, Social Manager, Angela Bruneau)

Photo by Stephane YAICH on Unsplash

 

Books, Games, TV, And Music

As we said before, the more exposure the better. We all know kids are more responsive when they are doing something fun and interactive. Reading, board games, music, tv programs are excellent ways to increase exposure and also learn new vocabulary. “One thing that has helped our young kids to really enjoy German, is music. We listen to a lot of German kid’s songs and watch animated music videos on YouTube to put imagery together with the lyrics. It is great for vocabulary but also great culturally.” (Kealan Casey – Bébé Voyage Contributing Editor)

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

Don’t Give Up

This is the most important piece of advice we can give you! No matter how stubborn kids get or how lazy they become, keep on trying! It will eventually stick and become second nature. Kids are clever and will try to play to their strengths choosing the language they find easier to speak in. Don’t settle, keep asking them to reply in the other languages if you have to, it will get easier. 

“I was raised bilingually, and I have always felt this was the greatest gift my parents ever gave me. Not only did it open up my brain to being able to easily absorb new languages but it also gave me the unique ability to perceive the world through different points of view.” (Bébé Voyage Co-Founder, Juliet Perrachon)

Did you enjoy this article on how to raise multilingual children? Are you currently raising kids who speak more than one language? Let us know in the comments below!

You may also like these articles from Bébé Voyage:

48 Hours in Athens: A Family-Friendly Adventure Through the City of the Gods

May 4, 2023 No Comments

Are you traveling to Greece with your kids and unsure of whether to plan a short stop in Athens? In this article, I’m going to

Read More »

Family Friendly Stockholm Hotels

March 23, 2023 No Comments

Stockholm, Sweden, being the child-friendly city that it is, is home to a vast collection of comfortable and colorful hotels for visiting families. Spend the

Read More »

Serena Minott on the Importance of Diversity in Children’s Books

March 16, 2023 No Comments

Looking for More Diversity in Children’s Books? Meet Mompreneur Serena Minott, Founder of Ashima and Creator of the book: The Amazing Adventures of Aya &

Read More »
chicago botanic garden

Baby Friendly Chicago Gardens

February 16, 2023 No Comments

Despite Chicago’s status as the third largest U.S. city, it still holds a treasure trove of beautiful, baby friendly gardens. From the sprawling Chicago Botanic

Read More »

Budapest with Kids

February 9, 2023 No Comments

Budapest – the capital of Hungary – is an amazing and diverse city in central Europe but it’s often underrated. I live here with my

Read More »

Baby Friendly Beaches Around the World

January 9, 2023 No Comments

Finding baby friendly beaches can be a real conundrum, especially if you plan to travel far from home. Thankfully, our Club Bébé Voyage parents have

Read More »
  • multilingual
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Marley

Marley

Marley (They/Them/Their) is the Editor-in-Chief for Bébé Voyage. Marley is an avid traveler, food lover and parent to one kiddo. They hold a BA in English Literature and a Diploma in Freelance and Feature Writing with the London School of Journalism. You can find out more about Marley at www.mconte.com
All Posts »
Become a member
PrevPreviousSpring Awakening: Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens, Thailand
NextSpanish Tortilla: Delicious Recipes From Around The World!Next

JOIN THE CLUB

DISCOVER ALL THE BENEFITS OF OUR MULTIPLE LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP
sIGN UP NOW
Cool

Login

 
 
Forgot Password

Bébé Voyage’s Best Tips On How To Raise Multilingual Children

Info
  • Contact
  • About
  • Media Appearances
  • Contact
  • About
  • Media Appearances
Blog
  • Community
  • Family Travel Gear
  • Community
  • Family Travel Gear
Connect with Bébé Voyage
Facebook-square Instagram Pinterest Twitter At
© COPYRIGHT BEBE VOYAGE, LLC 2023
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions