Want to be the best parent possible?
All parents have big dreams and high hopes for their little ones. The only problem is finding the time to make it all happen!
What if there was one skill that teaches a whole host of essential traits for success?
Early language acquisition is the greatest predictor of a child’s future success. This singular skill can anticipate your child’s test scores, mental health, and even their likelihood to graduate from high school.
With so much being controlled by language learning, it’s no surprise that multilingual kids have a huge advantage over their peers. They’re learning not just one language, but two!
Let’s walk through the many benefits of bilingualism in kids and uncover why children seem to pick up language so much faster than adults.
Stay tuned to discover the #1 language to teach your child!
The Importance of Learning a New Language as a Child
Children have greater neuroplasticity compared to adults. Neuroplasticity is the ability to create and change neural pathways in the brain. This neuroplasticity enables the brain to quickly grow, adapt, and pick up new patterns.
The early years of childhood are extremely important for language acquisition as neuroplasticity quickly decreases with age. 90% of brain development occurs before the age of six!
That said, it’s never too late to set your child on the path to bilingual success.
9 Advantages Multilingual Kids Have Over Monolinguals
Did you know that bilingualism affects psychological, social, and even emotional development?
Here are 9 research-based reasons why bilingual children have the upper hand over monolinguals.
Table of Contents
1. Better Communication Skills
Unsurprisingly, multilinguals can speak with many groups of people. Their messages can reach more people and spread further than monolinguals’. Children who speak more than one language are natural translators and interpreters.
Additionally, exposure to more than one language naturally enhances bilingual children’s communication skills. Multilingual kids have a better understanding of diverse perspectives and cultures. This cultural awareness helps them adapt their communication styles to each unique situation.
2. Higher Pay
Did you know that your child could earn 5-20% more per hour compared to their monolingual peers?
Loads of studies show that it pays to be bilingual. With fewer than 20% of Americans speaking a second language, being bilingual gives your child a highly marketable skill. According to the Economist, bilinguals can earn as much as $50,000 to $125,000 extra just for speaking a foreign language!
3. Academic Advantage
Bilingualism helps improve cognitive functions and educational development.
As a result, multilingual children consistently outperform monolinguals on standardized tests. In the 2007 SAT Total Group Profile Report, students with four or more years of language experience averaged 140 points higher (out of 800 points) than other students.
4. Improved Cultural Awareness
Multilingual children are well adapted to the current globalizing world.
Language learning creates an immersive cultural experience. It exposes children to varying customs, ideas, and perspectives from across the globe.
These broadening lessons lead to enhanced empathy and a greater ability to connect with diverse groups of people.
As the U.S. population continues to exponentially diversify, it is more important than ever for children to be culturally aware.
5. More Travel Opportunities
There are nearly 200 countries in the world just waiting to be explored.
Multilingualism is essential for future globetrotters. Travelling is more accessible, fun, and authentic when you can speak the local language.
Multilingual children are better prepared to study abroad, work in another country, and vacation in faraway places. Their second, or even third, language opens the doors to dozens of more countries, cities, and neighbourhoods.
6. Increased Brain Power
Multilingualism keeps your child’s brain healthy and sharp for longer.
Constantly switching between languages builds up executive brain functions. As a result, kids who speak more than one language process information faster and more efficiently than mono-speakers.
There are endless cognitive benefits to knowing a second language. For example, bilingual kids have better multitasking abilities, more problem-solving skills, and stronger focus.
7. Stronger Social Skills
Younger generations have significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression. Research demonstrates that they also have worse social skills than their parents.
Teaching your child a second language can reverse this trend. Language learning strengthens your child’s soft skills and improves their mental health.
Traits like emotional intelligence, social cues, and confidence flourish during language acquisition. When children study a foreign language, they are actively practicing these important “people skills.”
8. Expanded Career Options
Multilingual individuals are not limited to teaching or translation jobs. There are loads of career options for foreign language speakers.
The U.S. and the UK is full of global companies, immigrants, and international students. However, there simply aren’t enough multilingual workers to go around. In fact, the demand for bilingual workers doubled in just 5 years!
Additionally, this growth is only expected to continue in the future. Prepare your child for the approaching job market by teaching them another language today.
9. Brighter Future
Language learning can even help get your student into college!
Foreign language credit is regularly becoming a college application requirement. Most universities require at least two years of high school foreign language studies.
It’s more important than ever to have a college degree. People with college degrees get paid more, have greater job satisfaction, and are less likely to be unemployed.
Online programs like Homeschool Spanish Academy enable students to easily obtain foreign language credits online so that they can get into the college of their dreams.
Which Language Should Your Child Learn?
Spanish is the best gift that you can give your child.
With more than 50 million speakers, Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the United States. Additionally, over 20 countries speak Spanish.
As a category one language, Spanish is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. It’s also one of the most sought-after languages by employers.
Spanish is the obvious choice when it comes to setting your child up for future success.
Sign Your Child Up for a Free Class —Here’s How!
Want to give your child all the benefits of bilingualism but aren’t sure where to start?
You don’t have to sign your child up for an expensive school or take them to a foreign country to learn a new language.
Homeschool Spanish Academy (HSA) makes it easier than ever to learn Spanish. They bring native Spanish speakers to you through our accredited online language program.
They take care of everything so that you don’t have to lift a finger. HSA provides experienced instruction, online progress tracking, report cards, transcripts, and more! We even offer high school credit.
With over 10 years of Spanish teaching experience, HSA has a proven track record of providing quality education.
Native Spanish-Speaking Teachers
The most important part of our program is our professional language instructors. Our certified instructors from Antigua, Guatemala have experience teaching students of all ages.
Flexible Language Lessons Online
Help your child become fluent in Spanish from the comfort of their own home!
All HSA lessons take place online through Google Hangout. Our web-based sessions provide you with flexibility by letting you choose the time, day, and even teacher of your choice!
Perfect For All Ages
From preschool to high school, HSA has specially tailored programs for every grade level.
Preschool Program
- Ages 5-6
- 25-minute classes
- Sample curriculum
Elementary Program
- Ages 6-10
- 25-minute classes
- Sample curriculum
Middle School Program
- Ages 10-13
- 50-minute classes
- Sample curriculum
High School Program
- Ages 13-18
- 50-minute classes
- Sample curriculum
- Earn foreign language credit
Low-Cost Pricing
Homeschool Spanish Academy’s online model enables us to provide you with affordable pricing — as low as $7-$15 per class!
Look at their price breakdown:
| Length of Class | Number of Classes | Number of Students | Price per Class |
| 25 minutes | 15 | 1 | $10.93 |
| 25 minutes | 30 | 1 | $9.30 |
| 25 minutes | 60 | 1 | $6.65 |
| 50 minutes | 15 | 1 | $15.60 |
| 50 minutes | 30 | 1 | $13.30 |
| 50 minutes | 60 | 1 | $10.98 |
| Length of Class | Number of Classes | Number of Students | Price per Class |
| 25 minutes | 15 | 2 | $14.27 |
| 25 minutes | 30 | 2 | $13.30 |
| 25 minutes | 60 | 2 | $11.65 |
| 50 minutes | 15 | 2 | $21.60 |
| 50 minutes | 30 | 2 | $19.30 |
| 50 minutes | 60 | 2 | $16.98 |
Sign Your Child Up for a Free Class
Now that you understand the multitude of advantages that multilingual kids have, it’s time to add your child to the successful bilingual club.
To start, all you have to do is sign your student up for a free trial class!
HSA is the best way to provide easy, online language instruction at home. The testimonials and reviews speak for themselves.
Don’t delay, sign your child up today!
This is a sponsored post. This post contains affiliate links to various products and if you buy anything by clicking those links, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. To find out more, you can read my disclaimer here
This is such a interesting and educational post, thank you so much for sharing lovely. I don’t have children myself yet but one thing I defiantly want to gift my child is another language. There’s so many amazing advantages to speaking different languages and it’s something I defiantly would love my child to have behind them. This was a really insightful post Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Surely there are a lot of advantages that a kid can get merely by learning a second language. Thanks for your feedback.
I can see a lot of people speak Spanish and I regretted that I didn’t focus on it a lot.
I also don’t know Spanish but my son is learning it and he likes it. Thanks for your feedback.
Great post! I agree; the earlier the kids can learn a second or third language the better.
Crystal | http://www.amazingbaby.app
Yes, I also think it is better to start learning a second language earlier in life. It surely helps in better grasping & understanding of various different things. Thank you so much for your feedback.
I love this! I totally agree, I think children should be taught languages from a young age to increase job prospects and opportunities later on, as well as aiding with cultural awareness. Thank you so much for sharing x
Absolutely second that. Thanks for your feedback.
This is a great post and I fully agree. As an English Language teacher myself and some who speaks multiple language, all your points are great reasons why it should be promote from a young age to learn mor than one language. And Spanish is a great recommendation.
What I have noticed is that many teachers don’t know what it takes for a child to learn a second language. They might seem slow in speaking at the beginning and are being send to specialists and support classes. This can deter parents from continuing with the second language.
My advice is for them to keep going, because their child will advance more rapidly than the rest after a while.
Thank you so much Benny. These are such good points you have mentioned. Being a multilingual myself I can surely vouch for its benefits. Thanks for your feedback.
Awwwnnnn, this is so interesting. I wish I could speak either French or Spanish. I’m fluent in Yoruba and English. Being bilingual gives you so much advantage. Thanks for sharing
That is fab to be able to speak more than one language. Thanks for your feedback.
This is such a well researched and well written article, Rupali. Loved reading it and your back links are so helpful. Really nice.
Thank you so much Madhavi for the lovely words and your feedback.
I am from a country with 26 listed languages and hundreds of other dialects. I speak four languages and I am understand a couple of languages. It will be beneficial for kids to learn multiple languages.
Same here Nithin, I speak 4 languages and so do my kids & husband. It is always beneficial to know more than one language. Thanks for your feedback.
This is fantastic!!! Thank you for sharing
Thanks Natasha for reading & commenting on the post.
I love this! Learning a new language is so tough- and getting that skill as a child makes it so much easier 🙂 it’s so interesting to hear about the advantages of multilingual children here, thank you for sharing x
Thanks Eleanor. It is really interesting to know that being multilingual has so many benefits especially if you start early on. Thanks for your feedback.
Very interesting points you make here. There are lots of benefits to learning new languages from an early age. It surely does impact how neurons and links are formed. Thank you for sharing!
I am glad you liked it & thanks for your feedback.
I love these benefits and the classes look amazing. A toddler Brain really is like a sponge and it’s a great time to learn.