The Power of Bilingual Parenting: Raising Kids Between Cultures

Parenting is a journey filled with joy, questions, and constant decisions. For migrant families, it also comes with navigating a new language, adjusting to a different culture, and finding ways to keep our children connected to their roots while helping them thrive in a new land.

What Science Says About Bilingualism

More than ever, research supports what many of us already know in our hearts: bilingualism is a gift.

According to the article “Bilingualism in the Early Years: What the Science Says” by Krista Byers-Heinlein and Casey Lew-Williams (Learn Landscapes, 2013), children exposed to two languages early on are not confused—they are often more adaptable, socially aware, and cognitively flexible. Bilingual kids develop stronger skills in switching between tasks, focusing attention, and understanding others’ perspectives.

“Rather than being a sign of confusion, code mixing can be seen as a path of least resistance: a sign of bilingual children’s ingenuity.” — Byers-Heinlein & Lew-Williams, 2013

Recent research by Professor Maria Arredondo at The University of Texas at Austin adds even more weight to this. Using brain imaging, her studies show that bilingual babies as young as 6 months already display higher activity in areas of the brain related to attention and learning—especially when they are exposed to code-switching (alternating between languages) at home.

“These papers show that bilinguals’ brains and ability in attention are adapting to their environment and improving over time.” — Arredondo, UT Austin, 2022

From Research to Real Life

But science is only one part of the story. The other part happens every day—in kitchens, playgrounds, and schoolyards.

It’s in a child telling their grandparents a story in Spanish. It’s in parents helping with homework in English while singing lullabies from their childhood. It’s in the joy and sometimes the struggle of choosing which word feels right in the moment.

These moments show that bilingualism isn’t just about cognitive advantage—it’s about belonging, emotional connection, and cultural continuity.

And yet, raising children with more than one language—especially when that language is not widely spoken in the community—can feel lonely. Parents may worry about doing the “right thing,” or feel pressure to assimilate. That’s why we believe in creating spaces that celebrate rather than question bilingual and multicultural families.

Bilingualism in the Australian Context

Australia is one of the most linguistically rich and culturally diverse countries in the world. With over 400 languages spoken nationwide (ABS, 2010), and more than 21.5% of people using a language other than English at home, our communities are shaped by voices from every corner of the globe.

And yet, when it comes to raising bilingual children, many families still face outdated advice, lack of institutional support, and the pressure to "speak only English at home."

A national study by Professor Sharynne McLeod (2011), which focused specifically on Australian preschoolers, paints a more accurate and hopeful picture:

• 1 in 5 children aged 4 to 5 (21.9%) are regularly spoken to in a language other than English

• 35 different primary languages were identified among the children surveyed

• 42 languages were spoken by their parents

These statistics reflect a changing Australia—one where diversity is no longer the exception, but the norm.

Yet, as highlighted by RUMACCC (Research Unit for Multilingualism & Cross-Cultural Communication at the University of Melbourne), many early childhood services, speech professionals, and school systems aren’t equipped to respond to this reality. There’s a gap between who our communities are and how institutions support them.

For instance:

• Children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may be over- or under-represented in speech and language therapy caseloads

• Families are sometimes told to drop their home language, even though there’s no evidence this improves language development (Döpke, 2006)

• Publicly available census data often reflects older migrant trends, like post-war Italian migration, rather than the current reality of growing communities speaking Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Hindi, and Spanish

This matters—because language is not just a tool. It’s a part of who a child is. When we support children in growing up multilingual, we’re not just teaching them words—we're building identity, confidence, and connection.

In fact, early bilingualism in Australia may be one of the clearest opportunities we have to promote both educational equity and cultural inclusion.

As Susanne Döpke reminds us:

“Children of a certain age have similar memory and processing capacities across cultures—what differs is the richness of the input. Speaking more than one language doesn’t delay development. Lack of quality interaction does.”

That’s why spaces like Lazos LatinOz are important—not just for Latin American families, but for everyone. In a country as diverse as Australia, creating safe, joyful, and inclusive environments for families to celebrate language, culture, and connection isn’t just nice to have. It’s necessary.

Reflect, Share, and Embrace Diversity

Many families migrate to Australia with a dream for a better life. But that dream often comes with sacrifices—leaving behind family, familiar languages, and cultural comforts. Navigating this new life while trying to hold on to who you are is no small task.

If you’re raising bilingual children in Australia—take a moment to acknowledge the strength it takes. If you’re a teacher, a neighbour, or a friend to someone who is bilingual—be curious. Ask. Listen. If you’ve ever shared a moment of connection across languages—remember how much that means.

Language is not a limitation—it’s a window. Culture is not a barrier—it’s a gift. Multilingual families don’t make Australia different—they make it richer.

So let’s reflect at home, at school, at work. Let’s share our stories. And let’s keep embracing the diverse, multilingual heart of this country—one conversation at a time.

To learn more about the Lazos LatinOz program and explore our other events, community initiatives, and programs for migrant families, visit us at: www.latinoz.org.au

References

• Byers-Heinlein, K., & Lew-Williams, C. (2013). Bilingualism in the Early Years: What the Science Says. Learn Landscapes, 7(1), 95–112. PMCID: PMC6168212

• Arredondo, M. (2022). Shining a Light on How Bilingual Children Learn. University of Texas at Austin. View article

• McLeod, S. (2011). Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Australian 4–5-Year-Old Children and Their Parents. ACQ, 13(3), 112–119. Speech Pathology Australia.

• Döpke, S. (2004, 2006). Raising Children in More than One Language. Research Unit for Multilingualism & Cross-Cultural Communication (RUMACCC), University of Melbourne. arts.unimelb.edu.au/rumaccc

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010). Yearbook Australia, 2009–10. www.abs.gov.au