Which strategies can educators use to assist bilingual children?

Choosing to employ language support programs and create a multilingual environment is an effective strategy for assisting bilingual children. This approach acknowledges and supports the children's existing language skills while promoting language development in both their home language and the new language being learned.

By using language support programs, educators can provide targeted assistance that addresses the specific needs of bilingual learners. This can include resources such as bilingual books, visual aids, and interactive activities that encourage the use of both languages. Furthermore, fostering a multilingual environment helps validate the child's home language, making them feel valued and more confident while learning. It promotes inclusivity and reflects the diverse linguistic backgrounds of all students, enhancing social and emotional learning as well.

Overall, this strategy not only helps improve language proficiency but also supports cognitive development, encouraging bilingual children to negotiate meaning and communicate effectively across languages. The other approaches do not provide the same level of support or recognition of the benefits of bilingualism.