Bilingual Brains: The Benefits of an English Nursery and Preschool
Choosing the right daycare, nursery or preschool for your child is an important decision. In a rapidly globalizing world, providing your child with the skills to thrive in an international environment is more crucial than ever, and the advantages from early exposure to a second language cannot be denied.
An English immersion program for children 6 and under offers far more than just language acquisition. This approach provides a solid foundation for your child’s cognitive development, academic success, emotional well-being, and cultural awareness, setting them on a path toward a truly global future. By immersing them in a second language from their earliest years, you unlock a host of lifelong advantages that go beyond communication in English.
Greater Cognitive Development
Exposing a child to a second language at an early age has positive impacts on cognitive development. Multiple studies have shown that children who learn a second language outperform single language students on tasks related to executive functioning including attention control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility due to their experience with two language systems (Bialystok, 2018). By learning a second language, they have stronger memories, focus, self-control and are more able to task-switch.
A 2004 Michigan State University study found that “bilingual youth were more successful at dividing objects by shape and color versus their monolingual peers who struggled when the second characteristic (sorting by shape) was added. This suggests the bilingual experience improves the brain’s command center, thus giving it the ability to plan, solve problems and perform other mentally demanding tasks. These tasks include switching attention from one thing to another and holding information in mind, like remembering a sequence of directions when getting ready for school in the morning or, for adults, driving a car.”
Improves Academic Performance
These cognitive advantages lead to improved academic performance. Bilingual students have improved problem-solving, time-management, and decision-making skills which help in any subject at school, not just languages.
A four-year, randomized trial at American University found that “dual-language-immersion students in Portland, Oregon, outperformed their peers in English-reading skills by a full school year’s worth of learning by the end of middle school.”
Builds Confidence
Learning a second language also develops important emotional skills that are the foundation for our self-esteem and confidence. Young learners of a second language have the opportunity to acquire these early in life.
Learning a second language requires overcoming obstacles. Children will make continuous mistakes, corrections and adjustments that result in satisfying successes. It also gives them the safe opportunity to encounter stressful situations and develop ways to cope and find a way through them. This reinforces the idea that effort and determination are the keys to success, which is a fundamental lesson in building self-esteem.Using the second language creates feelings of competence and achievement when expressing themselves which builds self-confidence and independence.
Develops Cultural Awareness
Early exposure to a second language helps children develop open minds and hearts to other ways of life and other ways of thinking. They learn to navigate differences while appreciating them at the same time. This cultural awareness fosters understanding and acceptance of diversity which further develops their tolerance and empathy towards others. This strengthens a child’s emotional intelligence and prepares them to socialize with people of many different backgrounds.
By enrolling your child in Staring English School, you are giving your child more than just a language; you are equipping them with the cognitive, academic, and emotional tools necessary to succeed in a complex world. The benefits of bilingualism—from enhanced problem-solving and memory to increased confidence and cultural awareness—are well-documented and far-reaching. Our school provides a supportive and enriching environment where these essential skills can flourish naturally. At Starling English school, your child gets a flying start!
