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The biggest myths about bilingual children – experts and parents reveal what’s actually normal

The biggest myths about bilingual children – experts and parents reveal what’s actually normal

Raising a bilingual child isn't as easy as just speaking to them watching them absorb the words like a sponge. Experts and parents reveal the struggles and worries – and why consistency matters more than perfection.

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Hollie Bond

Published: January 26, 2026 at 3:39 PM

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Being able to say you're fluent in more than one language is a real flex: marking you out as intelligent and giving you a huge advantage in the global interconnected workplace, where communication is key. But as any adult knows, learning a language later in life can be seriously taxing on the grey matter and often ends in failure.

So being able to raise a bilingual child from the off can feel like one of the most meaningful gifts you give your children. But it's not as simple as simply speaking two languages at home, and it can come with plenty of doubts and challenges along the way. From worrying about speech delays to wondering if you are doing enough, or too much, many parents question whether they are getting it right.

Common misconceptions and myths about bilingual children are that they're slower to speak, will struggle at school, and that they'll constantly mix up the languages. However as the language experts and real parents below show, this is rarely the case.

To help you decide what's right for your family and how best to introduce two, three or even four languages into your children's lives, experts from language class platform Preply and speech and language therapist Emma Ahern from Zeebra Therapy and The Nook Clinic have shared their practical advice on raising bilingual kids successfully.

Plus, if you're just starting out on your child's bilingual journey, the honest insights from parents in the MadeForMums Club who are living it every day will reassure you that it's a journey worth taking. Their experiences show there is no single right way, but there are reassuring patterns that can help parents feel more confident.

Start early, but know it is never too late

baby boy looking at mother and saying first word

Introducing languages as early as possible can make a real difference, thanks to how young brains absorb sounds and accents.

“Language learning is wise to introduce to your child at any age, from tots to teens!" say the experts at Preply. "That said, in the early years, children’s brains have greater plasticity, making learning a lot easier.”

This is something parents in the MadeForMums community have seen first-hand. Charlie Punter, who is raising bilingual English and Welsh children, said, “I stated to introduce the language to them as newborns. We would read books and sing songs in Welsh.”

She explains that starting small helped her feel less overwhelmed, using everyday phrases like good night and thank you, and building from there. “We’ve had no issues with speech delays or mix ups,” she added.

Others found that starting later can still work brilliantly though. Jess Howard, whose children speak Welsh at school, said, “My son didn’t start learning Welsh until he was 6. He picked it up so fast and his teacher says he is even ahead of some that have been learning Welsh since they were in Nursery!”

Expect mixing languages and trust the process

One of the biggest worries parents share is children mixing languages. Experts say this is completely normal and not a sign of confusion.

Gabriela Nistor, who speaks Romanian at home, while her son speaks English at school and Italian with his cousins, said, “There were mix ups at times, especially after coming back from holidays in Italy, but my son is learning more and more when to speak one or the other language.”

Similarly, Stacey Jones noticed her youngest mixing Welsh and English at age seven, but said, “My older children now can separate the two languages.”

Preply reassures parents that this kind of switching is often a sign children are actively processing both languages, not struggling with them.

Create clear language routines

One approach many parents found helpful was assigning languages to specific people or settings.

Seila, who speaks Catalan while her husband speaks English, said, “It’s hard because my kids' life is mostly in English at nursery and playgroups etc. So we go to a Spanish playgroup and that day we make sure to only speak Spanish.”

She also shared the emotional side of bilingual parenting – when one parent can feel excluded – adding, “It’s hard to make my husband feel included." Her solution has been to sometimes speak basic Spanish when her husband is around so everyone feels involved and learns together.

Wen, who speaks four languages, echoed the importance of routine. “Thinking in four languages at the same time would be too much for the children, so we speak in our native language at home and English outside. We started doing this when they were babies.”

When confidence dips or progress stalls

mixed race girl writing French in her homework book

Not every stage feels positive, and some parents described moments where children resisted using a second language.

Celine, who speaks French while her husband speaks Urdu, shared, “My younger two are currently at a stage where they are ‘blocking' and not willing to understand French. Which is a tricky one, but hopefully just a phase.”

Her experience highlights a key message from experts: resistance does not mean failure. Motivation often fluctuates as children grow, especially when one language dominates their school or social life.

My eldest fully understands French but lacks confidence to speak French unless she is surrounded by French speaking people.

Celine, MadeForMums Club parent

Use play, media and everyday life to support you

The experts at Preply encourage parents to use media strategically, turning screen time into language exposure rather than banning it entirely.

“Consider swapping out the language in the apps they play with and introducing children’s TV shows in the second language.”

Many parents already do this instinctively. Charlie Punter said, “We watch Welsh TV shows and listen to Welsh radio stations in the car.”

Mum Gabriela Paunete also noticed positive results through everyday exposure. “My son watches TV in English and Romanian,” she said, adding that her four-year-old switches confidently between both languages.

Bilingualism doesn't always result in speech delays

A common fear among parents is that bilingualism might cause speech delays.

Mum Wen experienced conflicting advice on whether this was indeed the case. “Our health visitor blamed my son's speech delays on his bilingual environment, while the speech and language therapist said the opposite," she says. “We were encouraged to keep speaking in our native language at home by the speech and language therapist as well as the school SENCO.”

This aligns with expert consensus that bilingualism does not cause speech delays, and maintaining a strong home language can actually support overall development.

However Emma Ahern does acknowledge that children may start talking slightly later as they decipher their rich vocabularies, but that this doesn't constitute a speech delay that should worry parents. "Children in bilingual households may start talking slightly later as they navigate two languages simultaneously, but this is entirely normal and should not cause concern," says Emma.

"Every child is unique, and their speech development is influenced by multiple factors," says Emma. "Genetics, exposure to language, and even personality can all play a role."

Lead by example and stay positive

The Preply experts emphasise that children take emotional cues from their parents. “Ultimately, it’s best to learn a language with your child as a team. Let them see you enjoy the process and grow alongside them.”

For many MadeForMums parents, pride has become the overriding feeling. Stacey Jones summed it up simply, saying, “I’m very proud they are Welsh speaking.”

Raising bilingual children is rarely smooth or linear, but the common myths about delaying children by presenting multiple languages are just that... myths.

In fact, having a second language is real gift from parents to their children with research indicating that bilingual people often have better memory, increased problem-solving skills, and a delayed onset of dementia by up to 4-5 years. Add in how good it looks on their CV and how it opens up their world and the long-term rewards certainly outweigh any early challenges.

With patience, consistency and a bit of flexibility, bilingualism can become a natural part of family life rather than another pressure point or something that parents feel the need to do perfectly.

Authors

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Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!