Joséphine Vigouroux
More and more families are considering choosing a bilingual preschool for their child.
Early bilingualism raises both enthusiasm and legitimate questions: is it appropriate from kindergarten onwards? Is it beneficial for a child's development? Could it cause difficulties for the child?
Research in neuroscience and developmental psychology is now very clear: when experienced naturally, early bilingualism supports the linguistic and cognitive development of young children.
Between the ages of 2 and 6, the brain benefits from high cerebral plasticity.
Neuroscientist Patricia K. Kuhl (University of Washington) has shown that infants are able to distinguish between the sounds of several languages from their first months of life. This natural ability facilitates the simultaneous learning of two languages without cognitive overload.
Learning in a bilingual preschool therefore corresponds to the natural functioning of young children's brains.
Many parents worry that their child will confuse languages.
However, research by François Genesee (McGill University) shows that bilingual children differentiate between languages at a very early age.
When they sometimes use a word from one language rather than the other (a phenomenon known as code-switching), this is not a sign of confusion, but rather a normal linguistic strategy.
This temporary mixture disappears naturally as vocabulary is enriched.
Another common concern is the possibility of falling behind in school.
Research conducted by Ellen Bialystok, a world-renowned expert on bilingualism at York University, shows that bilingual children reach the same stages of language development as monolingual children.
Some studies even show an improvement in executive functions related to attention and problem solving.
The CNRS also confirms that exposure to multiple languages stimulates certain areas of the brain involved in cognitive flexibility.
Scientific research highlights several cognitive benefits observed in bilingual children:
These benefits are particularly apparent when languages are experienced naturally, in a safe environment.
In a bilingual preschool, languages are not learned in the traditional academic sense.
They are integrated:
According to language development specialists, this natural immersion is the best way to promote language acquisition.
Before starting the pre-registration process, many families have legitimate questions:
AtÉcole M, these questions are an integral part of the admissions process.
Discussions with the team enable families to understand the educational program and ensure that it meets their child's needs.
AtÉcole M,bilingualism is experienced naturally from kindergarten onwards, in a safe and caring environment.
This is a cornerstone of the educational project and a key topic of discussion with families during the admissions process, ensuring that each child has a smooth transition into school that is tailored to their individual needs.
Choosing a bilingual preschool means offering your child a rich, respectful environment that is suited to their development.
