Bilingualism: Nurturing your child’s learning ability

It is quite common these days for children to know more than one language, even if it does not include the English dialect. Due to either necessity or the dynamics of a multicultural family, did you know that a child who is bilingual can have additional learning benefits? It is a fact that because a child can understand more, they can better express their needs, fit in better with the environment, and ultimately socialize more with friends. It all starts with exposure to more than two languages, providing the tools to support, and many forms of good nutrients that support the brain (food and growing milks, eg. Similac Gain IQ ) from within.1, 7

How using more than one language helps development

Bilingual children may have a more adept focusing power and improved ability to provide a better response to questions or situations. This is because knowing multiple languages helps activate the parts of the brain that takes care of cognitive abilities. By improving “cognitive flexibility”, children are more likely to have more efficient problem-solving skills and more likely to think outside-the-box.3

One of the best ways to get your child to learn another language is to speak it yourself as a parent. Make it a habit of conversing in the chosen language you want to practice at home often. more than one language at home. And as a bonus, learning other languages can teach them the importance of their own or other cultures, enhance their socializing skills, and boost their confidence because they can understand more nuances.1, 2

Benefits of making learning fun

When a child is happy and engaged, they are more likely to enjoy that activity, especially learning. Similar to adults, being in a good mood helps with the perception of what is being taught and promotes a more positive sense of accomplishment. Humans, especially children, are emotional beings and for most things they learn, there is always an emotion-based aspect attached.1, 4

Physically, “having fun while learning” increases brain activity that uses neurons called Oxytocin (for happiness), Dopamine (for motivation), and Norepinephrine (for paying attention). Best way to increase those learning promoting neurotransmitters? Throw in surprises, humor, play scenarios, add props, or even change teaching locations from time to time.1, 4

Support with Nutrition

To keep both the mind and body healthy, having balanced nutrition is key, especially for children. And the reasons for that comes down to the brain & eye development supporting properties of nutrients like vitamin D, B6, C, omega-3, folate, choline, zinc, magnesium, iron, and protein. A combination of those nutrients also helps regulate mood for improved attention span and aid in memory retention. Typically, in a day, a child should eat the same portions of fruits (¼ plate), vegetables (¼ plate), proteins (¼ plate), and carbohydrates (¼ plate) as adults. The only difference is the portion size, which varies on individual child’s gender, age, and size.6 The more vegetables and fruits, and sometimes nuts, your child eats the better because of the high-quality Vitamin C, D, natural Vitamin E, and DHA (Docosahexaenoic, an important fatty acid for brain development) they provide.5

When it comes to helping your child be well nourished and a competitive edge in learning a second language to their native one, knowing their individual nutritional needs is important. To help support your child’s brain development, nourishment with supporting brain nutrients has equal value to a positive stimulating environment. There are several growing milk options that can provide support. Similac Gain IQ can help.7 With a unique combination of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), lutein, and natural vitamin E to help support vision and brain development8,9 and 2’‐FL HMO & Nucleotides to help support immunity, your child can both learn, be healthy and enjoy all the wonders of childhood.10,8

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