How can the language development of a child be affected in a bilingual home?
Bilingual children develop language skills just as other children do. In general, learning two languages may take longer than learning one. Children can be expected to go through periods of mixing grammar rules between the two languages and using vocabulary from the different languages in the same sentence. Some children may go through a “silent period” where they do not communicate as much when a second language is introduced. These experiences are normal and should gradually disappear as their language skills develop. Major language milestones such as using first words by age one and using two-word combinations by age two, should still be achieved.
