Raising your child to understand and speak more than one language is a beautiful gift. But if you're doing it in a community where only one language is spoken - or if you're the only one speaking your language at home - it can feel like an uphill battle.

Will they get confused? Will they fall behind? Should I stick to one language if they’re late to talk?

Here’s the good news: bilingualism doesn’t cause language delays, and the benefits are lifelong. This guide will walk you through what to expect, what’s normal, and how to create a strong emotional and cultural connection to your language - whether it’s te reo Māori, Cantonese, Arabic, NZSL, or any other.

Bilingualism Doesn’t Cause Delays

Let’s start by busting one of the most persistent myths:
Children do not get confused by learning more than one language.

Delays happen when there’s a true underlying difficulty - and if that’s the case, you’ll see it across both languages. Bilingualism doesn’t cause delays, and dropping a home language doesn’t ‘fix’ them.

In fact, continuing to speak your home language gives your child the strongest possible foundation - emotionally, culturally, and linguistically.

Don’t Stop Speaking Your Language

Even if your child is being seen by a speech and language therapist, the current advice is clear:
Do not stop speaking your language at home.

Your language isn’t getting in the way - it’s giving your child tools for connection, belonging, and understanding. Switching entirely to English can limit their exposure and may create distance between your child and the wider whānau.

Language is more than words - it’s hugs, memories, laughter, recipes, lullabies, and whakapapa.

What About Mixing Languages?

Children often mix words from different languages in one sentence - and that’s not a sign of confusion. It’s called code-mixing, and it’s developmentally normal for bilingual kids.

Examples:

• “I want kai.” (kai = food in te reo Māori)
• “Can you awhina?” (awhina = help in te reo Māori)
• “Where’s my zapato?” (zapato = shoe in Spanish)
• “Quiero more.” (Spanish + English: I want more)

They’re using whatever tools they have to express themselves. Over time, they learn when and where to use each language more accurately.

Code-Switching is OK for Adults Too

You don’t need to avoid switching between languages when speaking to your child. Code-switching (when adults switch between languages) is common in bilingual households and is not harmful. It reflects real-life use and helps your child navigate multilingual conversations.

So if you naturally speak a mix of English and te reo Māori, that’s perfectly fine. What matters most is meaningful, connected communication.

One Language May Lead - and That’s Normal

Your child might develop one language faster, especially if it's the one used at school or in the wider community. This is known as language dominance, and it’s typical in bilingual development.

Their stronger language may shift over time depending on their environment - for example, if they spend the holidays with their grandparents who speak Samoan, that language may suddenly flourish.

Total Vocabulary Matters

Some bilingual children may appear to know fewer words in each language compared to monolingual children - but when we look at their total combined vocabulary, it’s often equal or greater.

A child who knows “dog” in English and kurī in te reo Māori has two words - not just one. That’s a bilingual win.

Children Learn Through Connection, Not Just Exposure

Language learning is not just about hearing the words - it’s about how your child feels when they hear them.

If your language is used during cuddles, play, kai preparation, or bedtime stories, it becomes soaked in comfort, love, and connection. This emotional bond motivates children to use and value the language.

Support Language Learning the Way You’d Want to Be Supported

If you were learning a new language - especially as a beginner - what would help you most?
Probably not someone firing lots of questions at you.

What would help?
Someone slowing down, pointing to things, showing you, saying the same words often, and giving you time to absorb what’s going on.

That’s exactly how young children learn languages too.

Comments are more powerful than questions

Instead of asking, “What’s this? What colour is that?” try commenting instead:

• “You’ve got the parāoa - bread.”
• “That’s a maunga - a mountain. It’s so big!”
• “You’re pouring the miraka - the milk’s going in.”

Comments build understanding without pressure. They also help your child learn how words map onto the world around them.

Repetition is key

Children need to hear words many, many times - and in lots of different contexts - before they fully understand and use them.

Repeating words in natural, meaningful ways helps your child’s brain build strong connections.

For example:

• “Kākahu on. You’re putting your kākahu on. Blue kākahu!”
• “Look! A pūkeko! A pūkeko by the water. The pūkeko is walking.”

Repetition doesn’t mean drilling or flashcards - it just means using the same words often, in loving, playful ways. The more you say it, the more they’ll learn it.

Practical Ways to Support Your Child’s Language(s)

1. Speak your language often - and with joy

Your child learns best from you. Even if you’re the only one speaking your language, your consistency makes a difference.

2. Books and stories are powerful tools

Read aloud in your language - or make up your own stories. Books expose children to rich vocabulary, rhythm, and structure.

Can’t find books in your language? Translate as you go, or look for traditional oral stories, audiobooks, or comic books.

3. Sing songs and say rhymes

Even if you feel awkward singing, your child doesn’t care! Lullabies and nursery rhymes in your language help with memory, rhythm, and emotional attachment.

Try singing "Pō mārie" or "Tutira mai ngā iwi" at bedtime. One simple song, repeated nightly, can make a big impact.

4. Share your culture

Cook meals from your childhood. Celebrate festivals. Watch movies in your language. Talk about your own experiences using your language.

If you grew up making parāoa parai (fried bread) on Sunday mornings, get your child involved - and speak your language as you do it. It becomes a shared memory, rich in culture and language.

5. Find community if you can

If you have whānau or friends who speak your language, connect regularly - even by video call. Playdates with other bilingual children, or just hearing adults speak, helps normalise the language.

If there’s no local community, online groups and virtual catch-ups can still help.

What If I Didn’t Start Early?

It’s never too late. Your child can still learn and connect with your language, even if you start when they’re older. The principles are the same: speak it with love, use it in meaningful contexts, and make it part of their everyday life.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t need a perfect plan. And your language doesn’t have to be perfectly balanced with English.

If all you do today is sing a song, share a story, or laugh in your language - that counts. And it adds up.

Your language is a gift. Keep offering it, one small moment at a time.

References

• Paradis, J. (2007). Early bilingual and multilingual acquisition. The Cambridge Handbook of Linguistic Code-switching.
• Genesee, F., Paradis, J., & Crago, M. (2010). Dual Language Development and Disorders: A Handbook on Bilingualism and Second Language Learning.
• De Houwer, A. (2009). Bilingual First Language Acquisition.
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). (2021). Position paper on multilingualism.
• Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood NZ (2022). Growing Up Bilingual in Aotearoa: A Guide for Parents.