November 13, 2025
The truth is, children are remarkably capable language learners. Research from leading institutions, including studies published in the Journal of Child Language, shows that children exposed to two languages from birth develop both languages successfully when they receive consistent, meaningful exposure to each. Your role as a parent isn't to be a perfect teacher—it's to create an environment where both languages feel natural, valued, and useful.
This guide will help you understand what bilingual development looks like in young children and provide practical strategies you can start using today to support your child's journey with two languages.
Bilingual development doesn't look exactly like monolingual development, and that's perfectly normal. Understanding what's typical can help you feel more confident in your approach.
In the early years (6 months to 2 years):
During the preschool years (2 to 6 years):
It's important to remember that children develop at different rates, whether they're learning one language or two. Some children are naturally more verbal, while others express themselves in different ways. Your child's unique timeline is normal for them.
The good news is that supporting bilingual development doesn't require special programs or expensive materials. Here are evidence-based strategies that align with Runningbrook's child-centered, play-based approach to learning.
Children thrive on predictability. Establishing clear patterns about when and where each language is used helps children organize their linguistic world.
Some families use the "one parent, one language" approach, where each parent consistently speaks their native language to the child. Others designate certain times or places for each language—perhaps one language at home and another in the community, or one language at breakfast and bedtime while the other is used during the day.
There's no single right approach. What matters is consistency and authenticity. If you're more comfortable in one language, speak that language with your child. Forced or uncomfortable language use can create tension rather than connection.
Children learn language best when it's connected to things they care about and experiences that matter to them. This is why play-based learning is so effective for language development.
During play, narrate what your child is doing: "You're building a tall tower! Now you're putting the red block on top." Sing songs, read books, and play pretend games in both languages. These activities don't need to be elaborate—simple peek-a-boo, naming games, or playing with toys become language-learning opportunities when you engage with your child.
Daily routines are equally powerful. Bath time, meals, getting dressed—these repeated activities in both languages help children learn the vocabulary and phrases they'll use every day. The key is interaction, not perfection.
Surround your child with both languages in ways that feel natural and enjoyable:
Whether your child is mixing languages, making grammatical errors, or choosing the "wrong" language for the situation, respond to the meaning of what they're trying to communicate rather than correcting the form.
If your child says something in one language when you were hoping they'd use the other, you can model the phrase in your target language in your response, but avoid making them repeat it. For example, if your child says "I want agua" and you're trying to strengthen English, you might respond, "Oh, you want water? Let's get you some water." This technique, called recasting, provides the correct model without interrupting communication or making the child feel they've done something wrong.
Remember that code-mixing—using both languages in the same conversation or sentence—isn't a sign of confusion. It's actually evidence of sophisticated linguistic skill and is common among bilingual speakers of all ages.
Don't be surprised if your child's languages develop unevenly or if they go through phases of resisting one language. This is especially common when children start preschool or when there's a major life change.
At Runningbrook, we see this regularly in our multicultural environment. A child might suddenly prefer Spanish after starting in a primarily Spanish-speaking playgroup, or English might surge ahead when they make a close friend who only speaks English. This is normal, not permanent.
Continue offering both languages without pressure. Children often have a period of passive bilingualism where they understand a language better than they speak it. That receptive knowledge is valuable and can activate when the child is ready or motivated to use it.
At Runningbrook International Preschool, our child-centered approach recognizes that bilingual development happens most naturally when children feel safe, engaged, and genuinely interested in communicating. We don't drill vocabulary or force language production. Instead, we create rich, play-based environments where both English and Spanish are used authentically throughout the day.
Our small group sizes and dedicated educators mean that children receive individualized support appropriate to their developmental stage. A baby in Growing Steps (6 months to 2 years) is hearing both languages during responsive caregiving routines. A child in Playgroup (2-3 years) is exploring both languages through songs, stories, and pretend play. By Pre-Kinder (4-6 years), children are using both languages to negotiate play, express complex ideas, and build friendships with peers from more than 35 countries.
Our extensive indoor and outdoor play spaces provide natural contexts for language use. When children are building together in the sandbox, creating art projects, or working through conflicts during dramatic play, they're motivated to communicate—and that authentic motivation is the best foundation for language learning.
While the strategies above apply across age groups, here's how bilingual development might look at different stages:
Infants and toddlers (6 months to 2 years) are building the foundation. They're learning the sounds, rhythms, and patterns of both languages. Your focus should be on warm, responsive interaction in whichever language feels most natural to you.
Two to three-year-olds are beginning to combine words and assert their independence. They might have strong preferences about which language to use, and that's okay. Continue providing exposure to both while respecting their choices.
Three to four-year-olds are developing more sophisticated language skills and becoming aware that different people speak different languages. They might start asking questions about languages or showing interest in translation.
Four to six-year-olds are refining their skills in both languages and may start to notice that they know some words in one language but not the other. This is a great time to introduce more complex books, storytelling, and conversations about feelings and ideas in both languages.
Remember, these are general patterns. Your child's journey will be unique to them, influenced by their personality, interests, family situation, and community context.
We've worked with over 1200 families from more than 35 countries since 1993, and one truth remains constant: parents are the true experts on their own children. You know your child's temperament, interests, and needs better than anyone else.
Some children are enthusiastic speakers from an early age, while others are observers who take their time. Some thrive with lots of social interaction, while others need quieter environments to process language. Some children move seamlessly between languages, while others compartmentalize them more distinctly. All of these patterns are normal.
Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right for your child or your family, adjust your approach. The goal isn't perfect bilingualism according to some external standard—it's raising a confident, curious child who can communicate and connect with the people in their world.
Supporting bilingual development is a journey, not a destination. There will be moments of rapid progress and periods that feel frustratingly slow. There will be times when one language dominates and times when both seem to flourish together.
What matters most is that both languages are associated with love, connection, and meaningful experiences. When children hear their languages used to comfort them, play with them, teach them about the world, and connect them to family and community, those languages become part of who they are.
You don't need to be a perfect bilingual yourself or create an ideal language learning environment. You simply need to be present, responsive, and consistent in whatever approach works for your family. Your child is capable of learning two languages, and you are capable of supporting that journey.
At Runningbrook, we're honored to partner with families in this process, creating a multicultural environment where bilingual development happens naturally through play, relationships, and child-centered experiences. Whether your child is taking their first steps in our Growing Steps program or preparing for primary school in Pre-Kinder, we're committed to nurturing not just language skills, but the self-esteem, social confidence, creativity, independence, and curiosity that will serve them throughout their lives.
You're already doing important work by thinking about how to support your child's bilingual development. Trust yourself, enjoy the journey, and celebrate the remarkable gift you're giving your child—the ability to connect with people and cultures across languages.