Raising Children Bilingual from Birth

Abstract

This paper presents an argument for raising children bilingually from birth based on recent studies. After a definition of bilingualism is established, the paper will go on to explore the research on child bilingualism and the age at which children are first exposed to multiple input languages. From the perspective of the bilingual paradox, it is then argued that raising a child bilingually does not, in fact, hinder language development. To the contrary, research is presented which indicates there exists a window of opportunity within which children can be exposed to more than one language and successfully begin developing them in parallel. Lastly, the paper argues in support of raising children bilingually from birth, with attention given to the roles of motivation and learners’ individual situations.