Did you know that encouraging children to learn about other cultures and learn new languages is extremely beneficial to your child’s well-being and cognitive development? There are a host of great benefits to children learning new languages and exploring new cultures; if you want to know more, let’s take a closer look at exactly why children will benefit from learning new languages and studying cultures outside their own.
Listening to and learning new languages develops linguistic skills
Research has shown that children who learn foreign languages earlier on in life outperform children who spoke only their native language in terms of linguistic skills and development. Children who study other languages have a better understanding of grammar and language syntax; research has even indicated that the neural pathways built in children’s brains as they learn a second language make it easier to learn additional languages in the future.
Learning about cultures increases children’s empathy
Empathy can be a difficult concept to teach children, and learning cultures is one of the best ways to help children empathize with the people around them. Children who learn about other cultures are taught to consider that people’s opinions, beliefs and actions may differ from them—but that differences should be embraced rather than a source of conflict. This type of empathy has both long-term and short-term benefits. Children who can emphasize with others are more likely to make friends and built conflict-resolution skills that are necessary both in childhood and in adulthood.
Learning a new language improves brain function
Children who learn new languages don’t just benefit by becoming bilingual: research has shown that learning a language at an early age actually helps children improve a host of cognitive skills. These include memory improvement, concentration improvement, a greater ability to multitask, and even improved creativity and problem-solving skills. In other words, the benefits of learning a new language don’t begin and end with the language itself; they extend well beyond that, improving brain development and function as a whole.
Understanding cultures will help them later on in life
Children who learn about other cultures from an early age will be able to benefit from their knowledge later on in life, when the ability to understand and interact with people in different cultures can be academically, professionally and financially beneficial. Children who begin learning about other cultures early on are more likely to succeed in professions or lifestyles where multi-cultural understanding is a necessity.
Final Thoughts: Why Encourage Your Children to Learn New Languages and Cultures?
Learning new languages and cultures may seem a bit daunting, especially if you are a new parent. But children’s brains are adaptable and absorbent: they are at the perfect age to learn new languages and develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills associated with learning new languages and even simply learning about other cultures.
If you are ready to help your child gain benefits that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, start attending a language or foreign culture related program with your child today.