Growing up between two languages: how childhood bilingualism shapes a more flexible brain
Listening to two languages from childhood raises common doubts in families and educators: will they get confused? Will they speak later? Will it be difficult for them in school? Science is clear: early bilingualism is not an obstacle, but a unique brain training. Learning and alternating between two languages strengthens neural networks, improves concentration, and provides cognitive benefits that accompany throughout life, even in adulthood and old age.
What being bilingual really means
Being bilingual is not limited to mastering two languages fluently. It is about using them regularly in different contexts: at home, at school, or in the community. Although over time practice may be lost in one of the languages, the brain retains the early advantages, maintaining cognitive benefits such as mental flexibility and cognitive reserve.
The bilingual brain during childhood
The brain’s plasticity in the early years allows languages to share neural networks, facilitating effortless language switches. If a monolingual child knows 60 words, a bilingual child can distribute 30 and 30 between both languages: the . This dual learning trains executive control, key to filtering distractions, focusing, and alternating tasks effectively.
Advantages that persist over time
Bilingualism is not limited to childhood. Older adults who grew up between two languages show more gray matter in , which can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms. In addition, constant practice of switching between languages promotes cognitive flexibility: the ability to adapt to changing contexts and solve problems more agilely.
How to leverage bilingualism at home and in school
Promoting bilingualism is not about pressure, but about creating natural exposure environments. Reading stories in various languages, singing songs, watching movies in their original language, or playing video games in another language are everyday and effective resources. Emotional experiences, such as sharing family stories in the mother tongue, reinforce the bond with the language and make it a vibrant part of one’s identity.
A cultural and cognitive gift
Bilingualism does not make children “better” than others, but it does teach them to manage information differently. Growing up with two languages means growing up with a more organized, adaptable, and protected brain for the future. It is, ultimately, a cultural and cognitive gift that deserves to be valued and nurtured.
