Your language is a gift to your child

Many children growing up with a minority language background never fully learn their parents’ language. This matters – because language is at the heart of cultural identity, family connections, and a child’s sense of self.

The good news is that parents can do a lot to pass on their language. My name is Justin, I’m a child language researcher raising two bilingual children in Denmark, and my mission is to provide practical guidance and tips to help your child grow up fluent in their heritage language – and proud of it.

The myth of effortless multilingualism

You may have heard that children naturally pick up multiple languages easily. This isn’t true. There is huge variation in how well and how quickly children acquire their parents’ language. In my research in Denmark, I find that only about half of children with one or more international parents end up speaking their non-Danish language fluently.

Why do some children miss out on their parents’ language? Many factors play a role, but the main one is the language environment. To learn a language—especially one spoken in a minority context—children need frequent opportunities to hear and use it. Parents can create this environment, and with consistent effort, strong bilingual or multilingual skills develop. These skills become one of the greatest gifts a child can receive.

So, what makes a strong language environment? You’ll find plenty of practical tips here to help your child thrive in both their heritage and majority languages.