A very illuminating roadmap of the language trajectory! It’s so fascinating how babies are biologically drawn to human voices while in the womb, particularly their mothers. In that way, language almost seems intrinsically part of the human experience. It’s just all part of our source code 🧠
Love this! It offers such a fascinating neurological perspective on language development. Our little ones’ brains are designed to be challenged, and when we create the right environment, we give them the chance to stretch and reach their full potential. Big innovations start here!
Thank you Kelly-Ann! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, can't agree more. It's amazing to see those little brains to absorb things like sponge. I wished my brain could be young again and do the same. My 3yo remembered most of lyrics in "Let it go" from Frozen. I still can only sing "let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore." ... :)
As a mom of 4 multilingual kids, I completely agree. This is exactly why I’ve made it my mission to help other parents teach languages to their little ones. It’s really one of the most beautiful gifts we can offer them.
It's great to hear from you Marie! 4 multilingual kids! That's amazing. It definitely a great gift to the kids, especially I would imagine (and I hope) the world would be more open in the future.
I just subscribe to your newsletter. I'm grateful for connecting with you here. I look forward to learning alongside you! Thank you!
Thank you! I really believe that teaching languages to our kids is one of the most powerful ways to help make the world more open and tolerant. When children grow up understanding more than one language, they also learn to see from more than one perspective. I'm glad we connected.
I really enjoyed the bilingual piece of this. Our children are in a Spanish immersion school (neither parent is bilingual) and I often wonder about their limited vocabulary in English. Our oldest also has ADHD with difficulties in executive functions so I am curious if being bilingual actually improves those functions.
Thank you, Carrie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the article, especially the bilingual piece. It’s amazing that your children are in a Spanish immersion school. What a gift you're giving them, even if neither parent is bilingual.
I think it’s not uncommon at all for kids growing up with multiple languages to show a delay in vocabulary in one language, usually the dominant community language, like English. One of my friends shared a story that stuck with me: they spoke their native language at home, and English was used at school. Her son barely spoke before the age of five. But then, almost overnight, it all clicked. He started speaking in both languages and reading books in both too. Today, that same kid is thriving and now studying at Stanford.
Every child has their own developmental path, and language development can vary widely, especially in multilingual environments. And as you may know, boys on average tend to develop language slightly later than girls. So my general suggestion is: be patient, and look for opportunities to gently stimulate language without pressure. (Of course, this doesn’t replace consulting language or medical professionals if there are concerns. But it’s about cultivating growth at their pace.)
One little strategy that can help: when you talk with your kids, try slipping in a few words that are slightly above their current vocabulary level from time to time. It introduces new language naturally, in context, and helps build that bridge without making it feel like a lesson.
As for ADHD and executive function in bilingual children — that’s such a great question. I’ve seen research suggesting bilingualism might support certain executive functions, but I’d love to dig deeper into the latest findings. I’ll look into it and share a summary with you. Hope that sounds good!
Thanks again for reading and sharing your experience.
That’s exactly what I’ve done from day one — constant narration, conversation, singing, the works — and now my 2-year-old speaks in full sentences and surprises people with how well he communicates. The only catch? We’re a trilingual household… and he’s only speaking English for now :)
Any tips on how to gently reintroduce the other two languages without making it feel like a chore or confusing him?
Hi Valeria, thank you so much for reading and sharing your experience and huge congratulations on your son’s language development! Full sentences at age two is a big milestone, and it’s clear your constant narration, conversation, and singing have created a rich environment for him. What a gift.
As for your trilingual question, to be honest, I don’t have a perfect answer, but I can definitely share a bit from our own journey, which sounds surprisingly similar.
Our daughter is three now, and she’s been exposed to three languages since birth. Before she turned two, she was mostly at home with a wonderful nanny who spoke English and occasionally sang and chatted in Spanish. When the nanny was around, we spoke English. When it was just us, my wife mostly spoke English, and I spoke Chinese.
By the time she started daycare at age two, she could already speak in full sentences and communicate clearly — just like your son. In fact, the first few weeks of daycare were tough. She cried and kept asking the teachers to send her home. It was hard to watch, but it was also powerful to see her fully express her thoughts and feelings.
The teachers were surprised by her vocabulary and communication skills. Eventually, we realized she might have been overwhelmed not just emotionally but also because the language stimulation in daycare didn’t match what she was used to at home. They moved her into the preschool classroom, and the transition became much smoother.
I know that doesn’t directly answer your question, but I thought I’d share it since your son’s language seems similarly advanced — it might be helpful if you ever notice him feeling off in a new environment. Sometimes it’s not resistance. It could be mismatch of skills / environment.
As for the trilingual part: early on, our daughter spoke mostly English. Even when I spoke to her in Chinese, she would reply in English, occasionally mixing in a Chinese word or two. But after two recent trips to China, one for three weeks and one for two, she surprised us by switching to Chinese more fluently at home. Now we mostly speak Chinese at home, and she uses English at school or with visitors. She switches between the two effortlessly.
So if your son is only speaking English for now, I wouldn’t worry at all. The seeds of the other languages are definitely there. Keep offering gentle exposure, and if you get the chance, travel or spend time in environments where those other languages are spoken. It doesn’t have to be long. Just being surrounded by people using that language can make a big difference.
As for Spanish, her mom and I don’t speak it either, but it was part of her early exposure. She still remembers the Spanish songs from her nanny days and teaches us. She recently told us it’s her favorite language! We’re now trying to support that interest by playing Spanish music and attending library storytimes in Spanish.
You’re doing something incredible with your trilingual environment. Your son is for sure absorbing so much more than it might seem on the surface. I’m excited for what will blossom from it. Please keep sharing. We can all learn so much from each other.
This is so heartwarming and incredibly helpful! Thank you for sharing all this, Kunlun. It was amazing to read about your daughter’s journey and how beautifully she navigated through the challenges. I really needed that reminder that resistance isn’t always resistance — sometimes it’s just the environment, like you said.
I’m also amazed by how effortlessly your daughter switches between languages now. That gives me so much hope. We’ve been worrying a bit about the balance, especially since English has kind of taken the lead for now, but it’s reassuring to hear that things can shift and grow in such unexpected ways.
Thank you again — your words made me feel less alone in this, and so inspired. I'm so grateful for this community 🙏
Same here. We also started worrying about the balance especially hearing comments about "they will only speak English once they go to school, and stop speaking language they used to speak when they're little." But as I mentioned, recent two short trips totally changed her. I guess visiting a local country is particular helpful since people there only speak local language. It becomes as an "ability" to live, instead of just a skill good to have. That may trigger their speaking mode.
Yes, trust what you're doing now. Especially now your son is advanced in English while you guys talking other languages at home. I believe he already know these languages. Just need time a bit time to speak. (My daughter started speaking Chines around 3, which is much later than English).
Thank you for your thoughtful question. Yes it's amazing to have this community here. You're not alone. I'm grateful for connecting with you. Look forward to learning alongside you!
We’re raising our daughter with our native languages plus English. It’s already fascinating to watch how she handles them. Each parent speaks a different language, so it will be interesting to see how she interacts with each of us over time.
I fully agree with the idea that babies are fundamentally wired to learn language (especially early on)and that human interaction plays a critical role. However, I’d gently challenge the notion that more verbal input from parents is always better.
In "Brain Rules for Baby" by John Medina, he also cites the “gold standard” of 2,100 words per hour. That number, along with advice found in most science-based books like “Keep a running monologue” or “Narrate everything you do” can make parents feel like they need to talk constantly.
But this often creates stress, tension, and a high-energy environment. Both children and parents need space to rest, to observe. Constant narration and instruction can actually get in the way of a child’s natural learning through observation.
Your child is smart enough to learn language without a nonstop verbal stream. I think this kind of advice sometimes unintentionally creates friction, especially with toddlers, because parents feel pressured to talk all the time, to narrate every move, as if a moment of silence might lower their child’s IQ.
Thank you Ayk so much for reading the article and for sharing this thoughtful response. I really appreciate the perspective. I also love hearing about your daughter growing up with three languages! What an incredible journey she’s on. It must be so fascinating to see how she navigates each language with each parent. I’d love to hear more as that evolves. Our daughter is swimming between 2 and 3 languages as well. I will keep you updated on how it goes as well. :)
You raise a truly important point. I completely agree. My intention was never to suggest that parents should talk non-stop or narrate every moment of the day. We’re not robots (thank goodness!), and kids absolutely benefit from quiet time and space to observe, reflect, and just be. silence and unstructured moments are valuable for both parents and kids.
What I hoped to encourage was simply this: when a natural opportunity arises, like folding laundry, cooking, or walking together, those everyday moments can become rich language experiences with just a bit of intentionality. It’s not about filling every silence, but about being present and responsive when it matters.
You’re right. Too much pressure to “narrate everything” can backfire, especially with toddlers (and tired parents). I’m sorry if that part of the article came across otherwise, and I really appreciate you calling it out with such clarity and care.
Thanks again for contributing this important point to the conversation.
This article is great! Thank you! I’m an early childhood OT, and I tell families all the time - there’s nothing fancy to it. Just talk to your children. Narrate. Describe. Connect.
Thank you! I love how you put it “nothing fancy, just talk.” It’s such a simple, powerful truth. Kids don’t need perfection. They need presence. Grateful for the work you do and the wisdom you share with families! I look forward to learning from you.
Glad it helped. We often ignored that they were listening and learning before they could talk. Those takeaways and tips may look a lot. But basically it boils down to talk to them often and with intention and love. Talk to them as we usually speak. They definitely can catch up.
Yes, please do so to teach Theo both English and Spanish. You can start expose him to Spanish environment, such as songs and stories. Soon, you will be amazed.
When my daughter was littler, her nanny talked to her in Spanish from time to time. We also played Spanish music at home. She knows more Spanish than I do.
Also we never treated her like a baby in terms of language development. We speak to her as normal since she was born. I think that helped quite a lot. The "downside" is that when we send her to daycare around 2. She started crying loud, told teachers she missed us, and asked them to send her home... :)
They book didn’t say that. I know it can be a bit tricky. But I guess the general principle is kind of similar. Just keep exposing the kid to it. Our daughter is similar to that case. At school, she speaks English. At home, we speak Chinese to her. Recently, she starts replying back to us in Chinese. When she was young, her nanny was talking to her Spanish from time to time. She also loved listening to Spanish music. She still remember some Spanish song and actually like speaking it. Hopefully that will plant seed for her future journey of language learning.
Can’t stop nodding as I read through. Reminds me of the times that my daughter was young. While what it mentions here looks like a lot to do at first sight, it actually didn’t feel that way at all as it was so fun interacting with her from even when she was in my body, that being poked and moving around just under my belly skin. What I enjoyed most is the stage when she just started to talk so I got to have a peek at what’s going on in her little brain, which was usually sooo funny. Strongly recommend you record Sophie’s talking if you haven’t yet, guaranteed laughs even years later 😆
Thank you for this beautiful note. It really made me smile. I love how you described those early interactions, even from inside the womb. Those little kicks and belly pokes really are the start of a conversation.
And yes, that moment when they begin to talk and suddenly you get a peek into their thoughts… I’m already seeing glimpses of that with Sophie, and you’re so right. It’s funny in the most unexpected ways. I realized kids talked a lot to other kids. Teachers said they're bragging with each other about the second language they could speak. At one point, she told teacher she had a brother in another country.. (what she meant was a cousin). It's really funny.
I’m taking your advice seriously. I’ll start recording more of her little word gems. We were recording her dancing, singing and teaching us. I can already imagine us laughing years down the road, listening back.
Thank you for the warmth, and for sharing this lovely memory.
A very illuminating roadmap of the language trajectory! It’s so fascinating how babies are biologically drawn to human voices while in the womb, particularly their mothers. In that way, language almost seems intrinsically part of the human experience. It’s just all part of our source code 🧠
That’s a great point! Loved it. It all started way before the baby was born.
Love this! It offers such a fascinating neurological perspective on language development. Our little ones’ brains are designed to be challenged, and when we create the right environment, we give them the chance to stretch and reach their full potential. Big innovations start here!
Thank you Kelly-Ann! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, can't agree more. It's amazing to see those little brains to absorb things like sponge. I wished my brain could be young again and do the same. My 3yo remembered most of lyrics in "Let it go" from Frozen. I still can only sing "let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore." ... :)
As a mom of 4 multilingual kids, I completely agree. This is exactly why I’ve made it my mission to help other parents teach languages to their little ones. It’s really one of the most beautiful gifts we can offer them.
It's great to hear from you Marie! 4 multilingual kids! That's amazing. It definitely a great gift to the kids, especially I would imagine (and I hope) the world would be more open in the future.
I just subscribe to your newsletter. I'm grateful for connecting with you here. I look forward to learning alongside you! Thank you!
Thank you! I really believe that teaching languages to our kids is one of the most powerful ways to help make the world more open and tolerant. When children grow up understanding more than one language, they also learn to see from more than one perspective. I'm glad we connected.
I really enjoyed the bilingual piece of this. Our children are in a Spanish immersion school (neither parent is bilingual) and I often wonder about their limited vocabulary in English. Our oldest also has ADHD with difficulties in executive functions so I am curious if being bilingual actually improves those functions.
Thank you, Carrie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the article, especially the bilingual piece. It’s amazing that your children are in a Spanish immersion school. What a gift you're giving them, even if neither parent is bilingual.
I think it’s not uncommon at all for kids growing up with multiple languages to show a delay in vocabulary in one language, usually the dominant community language, like English. One of my friends shared a story that stuck with me: they spoke their native language at home, and English was used at school. Her son barely spoke before the age of five. But then, almost overnight, it all clicked. He started speaking in both languages and reading books in both too. Today, that same kid is thriving and now studying at Stanford.
Every child has their own developmental path, and language development can vary widely, especially in multilingual environments. And as you may know, boys on average tend to develop language slightly later than girls. So my general suggestion is: be patient, and look for opportunities to gently stimulate language without pressure. (Of course, this doesn’t replace consulting language or medical professionals if there are concerns. But it’s about cultivating growth at their pace.)
One little strategy that can help: when you talk with your kids, try slipping in a few words that are slightly above their current vocabulary level from time to time. It introduces new language naturally, in context, and helps build that bridge without making it feel like a lesson.
As for ADHD and executive function in bilingual children — that’s such a great question. I’ve seen research suggesting bilingualism might support certain executive functions, but I’d love to dig deeper into the latest findings. I’ll look into it and share a summary with you. Hope that sounds good!
Thanks again for reading and sharing your experience.
That’s exactly what I’ve done from day one — constant narration, conversation, singing, the works — and now my 2-year-old speaks in full sentences and surprises people with how well he communicates. The only catch? We’re a trilingual household… and he’s only speaking English for now :)
Any tips on how to gently reintroduce the other two languages without making it feel like a chore or confusing him?
Hi Valeria, thank you so much for reading and sharing your experience and huge congratulations on your son’s language development! Full sentences at age two is a big milestone, and it’s clear your constant narration, conversation, and singing have created a rich environment for him. What a gift.
As for your trilingual question, to be honest, I don’t have a perfect answer, but I can definitely share a bit from our own journey, which sounds surprisingly similar.
Our daughter is three now, and she’s been exposed to three languages since birth. Before she turned two, she was mostly at home with a wonderful nanny who spoke English and occasionally sang and chatted in Spanish. When the nanny was around, we spoke English. When it was just us, my wife mostly spoke English, and I spoke Chinese.
By the time she started daycare at age two, she could already speak in full sentences and communicate clearly — just like your son. In fact, the first few weeks of daycare were tough. She cried and kept asking the teachers to send her home. It was hard to watch, but it was also powerful to see her fully express her thoughts and feelings.
The teachers were surprised by her vocabulary and communication skills. Eventually, we realized she might have been overwhelmed not just emotionally but also because the language stimulation in daycare didn’t match what she was used to at home. They moved her into the preschool classroom, and the transition became much smoother.
I know that doesn’t directly answer your question, but I thought I’d share it since your son’s language seems similarly advanced — it might be helpful if you ever notice him feeling off in a new environment. Sometimes it’s not resistance. It could be mismatch of skills / environment.
As for the trilingual part: early on, our daughter spoke mostly English. Even when I spoke to her in Chinese, she would reply in English, occasionally mixing in a Chinese word or two. But after two recent trips to China, one for three weeks and one for two, she surprised us by switching to Chinese more fluently at home. Now we mostly speak Chinese at home, and she uses English at school or with visitors. She switches between the two effortlessly.
So if your son is only speaking English for now, I wouldn’t worry at all. The seeds of the other languages are definitely there. Keep offering gentle exposure, and if you get the chance, travel or spend time in environments where those other languages are spoken. It doesn’t have to be long. Just being surrounded by people using that language can make a big difference.
As for Spanish, her mom and I don’t speak it either, but it was part of her early exposure. She still remembers the Spanish songs from her nanny days and teaches us. She recently told us it’s her favorite language! We’re now trying to support that interest by playing Spanish music and attending library storytimes in Spanish.
You’re doing something incredible with your trilingual environment. Your son is for sure absorbing so much more than it might seem on the surface. I’m excited for what will blossom from it. Please keep sharing. We can all learn so much from each other.
This is so heartwarming and incredibly helpful! Thank you for sharing all this, Kunlun. It was amazing to read about your daughter’s journey and how beautifully she navigated through the challenges. I really needed that reminder that resistance isn’t always resistance — sometimes it’s just the environment, like you said.
I’m also amazed by how effortlessly your daughter switches between languages now. That gives me so much hope. We’ve been worrying a bit about the balance, especially since English has kind of taken the lead for now, but it’s reassuring to hear that things can shift and grow in such unexpected ways.
Thank you again — your words made me feel less alone in this, and so inspired. I'm so grateful for this community 🙏
Thanks Valeria! Glad it helps a bit.
Same here. We also started worrying about the balance especially hearing comments about "they will only speak English once they go to school, and stop speaking language they used to speak when they're little." But as I mentioned, recent two short trips totally changed her. I guess visiting a local country is particular helpful since people there only speak local language. It becomes as an "ability" to live, instead of just a skill good to have. That may trigger their speaking mode.
Yes, trust what you're doing now. Especially now your son is advanced in English while you guys talking other languages at home. I believe he already know these languages. Just need time a bit time to speak. (My daughter started speaking Chines around 3, which is much later than English).
Thank you for your thoughtful question. Yes it's amazing to have this community here. You're not alone. I'm grateful for connecting with you. Look forward to learning alongside you!
Thank you for this summary, Kunlun!
We’re raising our daughter with our native languages plus English. It’s already fascinating to watch how she handles them. Each parent speaks a different language, so it will be interesting to see how she interacts with each of us over time.
I fully agree with the idea that babies are fundamentally wired to learn language (especially early on)and that human interaction plays a critical role. However, I’d gently challenge the notion that more verbal input from parents is always better.
In "Brain Rules for Baby" by John Medina, he also cites the “gold standard” of 2,100 words per hour. That number, along with advice found in most science-based books like “Keep a running monologue” or “Narrate everything you do” can make parents feel like they need to talk constantly.
But this often creates stress, tension, and a high-energy environment. Both children and parents need space to rest, to observe. Constant narration and instruction can actually get in the way of a child’s natural learning through observation.
Your child is smart enough to learn language without a nonstop verbal stream. I think this kind of advice sometimes unintentionally creates friction, especially with toddlers, because parents feel pressured to talk all the time, to narrate every move, as if a moment of silence might lower their child’s IQ.
Thank you Ayk so much for reading the article and for sharing this thoughtful response. I really appreciate the perspective. I also love hearing about your daughter growing up with three languages! What an incredible journey she’s on. It must be so fascinating to see how she navigates each language with each parent. I’d love to hear more as that evolves. Our daughter is swimming between 2 and 3 languages as well. I will keep you updated on how it goes as well. :)
You raise a truly important point. I completely agree. My intention was never to suggest that parents should talk non-stop or narrate every moment of the day. We’re not robots (thank goodness!), and kids absolutely benefit from quiet time and space to observe, reflect, and just be. silence and unstructured moments are valuable for both parents and kids.
What I hoped to encourage was simply this: when a natural opportunity arises, like folding laundry, cooking, or walking together, those everyday moments can become rich language experiences with just a bit of intentionality. It’s not about filling every silence, but about being present and responsive when it matters.
You’re right. Too much pressure to “narrate everything” can backfire, especially with toddlers (and tired parents). I’m sorry if that part of the article came across otherwise, and I really appreciate you calling it out with such clarity and care.
Thanks again for contributing this important point to the conversation.
This article is great! Thank you! I’m an early childhood OT, and I tell families all the time - there’s nothing fancy to it. Just talk to your children. Narrate. Describe. Connect.
Thank you! I love how you put it “nothing fancy, just talk.” It’s such a simple, powerful truth. Kids don’t need perfection. They need presence. Grateful for the work you do and the wisdom you share with families! I look forward to learning from you.
This was such a fascinating read! I love how you broke down the science in a way that felt warm and wonder-filled.
It’s incredible to think about how much our babies are learning from day one—just by listening.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder of how capable and attuned they really are. 🤍
Also I’m working on attempting to teach Theo not just English but Spanish so thank you for this and good luck to me 🤞🏼
Glad it helped. We often ignored that they were listening and learning before they could talk. Those takeaways and tips may look a lot. But basically it boils down to talk to them often and with intention and love. Talk to them as we usually speak. They definitely can catch up.
Yes, please do so to teach Theo both English and Spanish. You can start expose him to Spanish environment, such as songs and stories. Soon, you will be amazed.
When my daughter was littler, her nanny talked to her in Spanish from time to time. We also played Spanish music at home. She knows more Spanish than I do.
Also we never treated her like a baby in terms of language development. We speak to her as normal since she was born. I think that helped quite a lot. The "downside" is that when we send her to daycare around 2. She started crying loud, told teachers she missed us, and asked them to send her home... :)
Completely agree with everything. Thank you for writing this piece!
Did the book say anything about more than 2 languages?
You’re welcome Leonid. Glad you enjoyed it.
They book didn’t say that. I know it can be a bit tricky. But I guess the general principle is kind of similar. Just keep exposing the kid to it. Our daughter is similar to that case. At school, she speaks English. At home, we speak Chinese to her. Recently, she starts replying back to us in Chinese. When she was young, her nanny was talking to her Spanish from time to time. She also loved listening to Spanish music. She still remember some Spanish song and actually like speaking it. Hopefully that will plant seed for her future journey of language learning.
Can’t stop nodding as I read through. Reminds me of the times that my daughter was young. While what it mentions here looks like a lot to do at first sight, it actually didn’t feel that way at all as it was so fun interacting with her from even when she was in my body, that being poked and moving around just under my belly skin. What I enjoyed most is the stage when she just started to talk so I got to have a peek at what’s going on in her little brain, which was usually sooo funny. Strongly recommend you record Sophie’s talking if you haven’t yet, guaranteed laughs even years later 😆
Thank you for this beautiful note. It really made me smile. I love how you described those early interactions, even from inside the womb. Those little kicks and belly pokes really are the start of a conversation.
And yes, that moment when they begin to talk and suddenly you get a peek into their thoughts… I’m already seeing glimpses of that with Sophie, and you’re so right. It’s funny in the most unexpected ways. I realized kids talked a lot to other kids. Teachers said they're bragging with each other about the second language they could speak. At one point, she told teacher she had a brother in another country.. (what she meant was a cousin). It's really funny.
I’m taking your advice seriously. I’ll start recording more of her little word gems. We were recording her dancing, singing and teaching us. I can already imagine us laughing years down the road, listening back.
Thank you for the warmth, and for sharing this lovely memory.
so looking forward to your recording! Do share here please :)