The benefits of exposing toddlers to foreign languages

Have you ever wondered why young children love to play with languages ​​so much?

Well, it's simple. A child is drawn to the magic of nursery rhymes and songs. He likes to imitate the pronunciation of strange new words; they play with rhyming words through repetition. By doing all of this, your child listens to the sounds of the language and subconsciously becomes aware of the rhythm, stress, intonation and pronunciation of the words.

As we grow older, we sometimes lose this fascination with words and sounds, we become uncomfortable, and we don't have as many opportunities to play uninhibited with language. Adapting early to the sounds of another language offers many advantages that will become apparent later.

Learning to speak several languages: what are the benefits? 

It's never too early to start learning a language: it's fun, it promotes healthy development, and the many cognitive and social benefits will last a lifetime. Here are some of the reasons why learning a language gives your child a huge advantage, and how you can help them, whether or not you know another language.

1. Give them a good start

Children who learn another language before the age of five use the same part of the brain to acquire that second language that they use to learn their mother tongue. Younger learners are also not inhibited by the fear of making mistakes, which is sometimes an obstacle for older beginners. This is also the optimal time, as their brain is still developing and growing.

2. Feed their brains

Research shows that learning a second language develops the ability to solve problems and work with abstract concepts. It also stimulates the development of the spirit of synthesis, critical thinking, listening and analytical skills, while stimulating memory, concentration and the ability to multitask. Children who master other languages ​​also show signs of increased creativity and mental flexibility. Finally, it allows the acquisition of a more open attitude towards other cultures, other ways of thinking, of communication. At the individual level, it improves the personality and increases the feeling of self-esteem.

3. Improve their academic results

The cognitive benefits of learning a language have a direct impact on a child's academic performance. Compared to those who speak no other language, bilingual children have better reading, writing and math skills, and they generally score higher on standardized tests.

4. Nurture their curiosity, cultural sensitivity, empathy and tolerance

As mentioned earlier, children who are exposed to other languages ​​early have a more positive attitude towards the cultures associated with those languages. The experience of learning a language will allow them to experience the world in ways they might not otherwise have experienced. Moreover, it will surely lead them to become more responsible, more engaged and more open-minded citizens of the world. It will reduce barriers to travel and therefore encourage continued exposure to other cultures and allow these future adults to interact more fully with others through a stronger sense of relationship.

5. Preparing the brain for learning other languages

Contrary to popular belief, young children are not confused by the introduction of several languages ​​at the same time. Each of the languages ​​learned will probably be learned in a different way, and it is possible that depending on the environment or the period one language takes precedence over the other and vice versa.

Not only do children naturally adapt to multilingual environments, but acquiring a second language at an early age prepares the brain for learning several other languages, which opens up a world of possibilities for later. You should know that children do not “absorb” languages ​​effortlessly just because they are very young. Frequent and regular exposure is necessary as well as the possibility of expressing oneself in this second language. In other words, letting your mini watch English movies all day won't allow it to be bilingual.

6. An asset for hobbies

Knowledge of various languages ​​and cultures is a gateway to a better understanding and appreciation of a wide range of other subjects, including art, music, cuisine, film, science and philosophy. It educates and expands the mind without limits and is the true core of a liberal education.

7. A future competitive advantage

And even if you find it hard to imagine that your little one will grow up one day, you should know that the practice of several languages ​​will help him in his professional future within an increasingly globalized society. Indeed, studying a foreign language is a huge competitive advantage when looking for a job in a wide range of fields - your little one who has grown up will have more job opportunities available to them thanks to the advance he will have been able to take with languages ​​from his childhood. Would you like to leave him with as many cards as possible and open as many doors as possible for him to succeed? So keep reading this article.

How can we prepare the ground? 

Whether you are bilingual or this is your first experience with another language, your support will make a huge difference to your child's success. You don't have to be fluent in the language your child is learning to create a supportive and active learning environment. Give him as many opportunities as possible for authentic experiences and promote language games…games like the Magic Mat .

Eh yes ! This awakening mat combines fun and learning. It puts an end to the incessant compromises and headaches of parents when choosing toys because it includes everything you can look for for your child: a game that promotes interaction, education (especially through learning languages) and sustainability.

The principle of the game. 

To tell you a little more, it's actually an awakening mat that also serves as an activity and puzzle mat. It is in the form of a pretty world map that arouses baby's curiosity and passion. Above all, it offers your mini the possibility of improving its language learning from an early age thanks to its multilingual qualities. French, English and Spanish are on the program. These language options are used through games that include several levels of difficulty (to satisfy all ages, but also to never get bored!)

For the more creative, recording your own voice with the pen is also an option. Your little wolf will develop his thinking and his ability to solve problems in a musical, fun and multilingual atmosphere.

English and Spanish. 

Our team obviously wanted to focus on the English language because it is a universal language - it is not uncommon to hear that English is the most important skill a person can have: knowing how to speak English will be necessary to get by in life. And if your little one is a future traveler, the English language will be more than useful for communicating abroad.

And why Spanish? We are lucky, in France, to count ourselves among the close neighbors of Spain, which is a fabulous destination for holidays: beach, warmth, good humor, tapas... Don't you agree? 😉

However, trips abroad are always tastier when you speak the language of the country, and when you are able to immerse yourself in the culture: being able to interact with the locals, listen to the radio, watch television or read the newspapers. in the language in question, for example. As a Frenchman, it is therefore important to be able to speak this language, especially since it is one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world and is also quite similar to French. 

The basics of vocabulary, and more… 

The Magic Mat will allow your child to enrich his vocabulary considerably. By stating the countries, animals, inhabitants of a geographical area or even important monuments of the world, the little voice of the Magic Mat will allow your little one to learn the basics of his own language, as well as the English and Spanish. And that, from its first years of life. The voice of the Magic Mat then helps children learn new concepts, thanks to its different levels of difficulty (the voice asks simple questions, then states puzzles that the child will have to solve.)

Work on your 3 senses. 

The Magic Mat was also designed with the aim of improving the pronunciation of words for your child. Your baby will enjoy imitating the voice which will teach him new words in different languages. He will quickly integrate the words afterwards thanks to the illustrations on the map of the carpet that he will have to indicate (at the request of the pen). Baby thus works his 3 senses: hearing, touch, and sight. Eventually, it automatically assimilates

words to things, and as a bonus, in different languages. Learning an essential language will therefore be done with pleasure and in a playful, interactive atmosphere and… to music!

All in song! 

Indeed, music is a good way to integrate a new language into your little one's world. Making him learn new words from an early age with the help of songs immediately makes learning easier! One thinks for example of the music of the alphabet. The design of the Magic Mat was made with this idea. We have integrated melodies into this game to help him memorize certain terms. Whether in French, English or Spanish, your child memorizes the basics of vocabulary much better, while having fun like crazy.

A friendly and beneficial game for all. 

Singing, dancing, laughing… These are activities that bring people together. So why not sit down with your child and practice your languages ​​alongside them? The Magic Mat has also been designed to have a good time with the family. Point your child, watch them play and have fun with them. Sometimes it is even the children who manage to answer the questions first!

The Magic Mat, yes! But not only. 

Our little gem allows your child to be exposed to several languages ​​in the best possible conditions, but here's a piece of advice from friends: above all, don't hesitate to introduce the foreign language more into their daily lives. Integrate it frequently and regularly through nursery rhymes, reading… Interact with him in such a way as to make him want to express himself in the language. Above all, don't force it, let it go at its own pace.

In conclusion , it is clear that language skills are vitally important today. If you need proof, look at how many job postings require English language proficiency as an essential qualification for candidates.

As we have explained, the preschool period is conducive to learning languages ​​because of the adaptability of the brain of toddlers. Children learn new things with incredible ease when introduced early in life. 

We all want the best for our baby, and thus give him the best chance of succeeding in life. Knowing that it is recommended to start learning languages ​​even before your child is one year old, what better than to initiate them with a linguistic game designed and adapted to all ages? The Magic Mat not only amasses all the qualities often sought after in a single toy, but also creates real moments of happiness and family sharing that will ultimately prove very beneficial for the development and the future of the apple of your eye.

Sources:

https://www.leadwithlanguages.org/why-learn-languages/early-childhood-elementary/#:~:text=Nurture%20Their%20Curiosity%2C%20Cultural%20Sensitivity,might%20otherwise%20have%20not%20experienced .

https://www.ithaca.edu/academics/school-humanities-and-sciences/modern-languages-and-literatures/why-you-should-study-for-reign-language#:~:text=The%20study% 20of%20foreign%20languages%20enhances%20listening%20skills%20and%20memor y,English%20increase%2C%20and%20creativity%20grows .

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-learning-foreign-languages-todays-world-paul-d-astoli

https://sparklebox.school/blog/why-it-is-important-to-learn-english-at-an-early-age/#:~:text=Learning%20the%20English%20lan guage%20at,exchange %20programs%20or%20studying%20abroad .

https://www.laroutedeslangues.com/blog/5-bonnes-raisons-de-parler-español/#:~:text=2%C3%A8me%20bonne%20raison%2 0de%20parler,si%20elle%20est %20practical%C3%A9e%20r%C3%A9guli%C3%A8rely .

https://www.nounouassure.com/faut-il-enseignement-plusieurs-langues-aux-bebes-methode-idees/