What Research Says About Language Learning Before Age 10 | Fun World Language Academy
What Research Says About Language Learning Before Age 10
When I was a new mom I was trying to decide if I should speak my native language to my child. After all, it wasn’t a “useful” language that would help in a business oriented world, and it wasn’t spoken in our community. It also wasn’t the language my husband speaks so it would not be our family common language. While wondering what is the point, I did what every new parent nowadays does - I googled it.
That was the start of my journey with bilingual education for young children. In my parenting research I discovered that there have already been numerous studies conducted in the area. It wasn’t really a novel and out there topic - it was a well researched fact that being bilingual as a young child has benefits for the child’s brain. As a parent of a brand new baby, this was the most enticing reason for me to keep speaking my native language to her. Even though I was worried that people will look at us confused when we speak it outside of the house, I was encouraged by all the research that is publicly available, that promises it is worth it.
Below are three of the most important reasons to teach your child a second language while they are young, that stood out to me, as a parent.
It activated more areas of the brain
It makes it easier for them to learn more languages later in life
It helps them better understand their first language and be good with catching language and grammar - related nuances.
1. It Activates More Areas of the Brain
One of the most fascinating things I learned was how bilingualism literally shapes the brain. Studies using fMRI scans show that bilingual children activate more areas of the brain when completing language tasks compared to monolingual peers. This is especially evident in areas related to executive function—skills like problem-solving, switching attention, and managing working memory.
According to research published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, children exposed to more than one language from an early age demonstrate greater cognitive flexibility. This means they are better at adapting to new situations and thinking creatively—skills that go far beyond just language.
🧠 Source: Bialystok, E. (2009). “Bilingualism: The good, the bad, and the indifferent.” Bilingualism: Language and Cognition
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3322418/
2. It Makes It Easier for Them to Learn More Languages Later in Life
Another compelling reason I found was that early exposure to a second language can act as a “gateway” to learning more languages in the future. Children who are bilingual from a young age develop an intuitive sense of how language works—how words can shift meaning depending on context, how grammar is structured, and how pronunciation varies. This linguistic awareness makes it easier for them to pick up a third or even fourth language down the line.
This idea is backed by studies like those summarized in The Critical Period Hypothesis by linguist Eric Lenneberg. He found that children’s brains are particularly receptive to language input before puberty, and that learning languages during this period requires less conscious effort and yields more native-like pronunciation.
3. It Helps Them Better Understand Their First Language
At first, it seemed counterintuitive—won’t learning a second language confuse my child and delay their development in the first one? But research says otherwise. In fact, bilingual children often show heightened awareness of language structures, which helps them understand their first language better.
This phenomenon, known as "metalinguistic awareness," means bilingual kids can more easily identify grammar patterns, detect ambiguities, and understand nuances in meaning. This deeper grasp of language also translates into better reading and writing skills over time.
📚 [Source: Cummins, J. (2000). Language, Power and Pedagogy: Bilingual Children in the Crossfire. Multilingual Matters.]
Metalinguistic Ability in Bilingual Children: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4000604/
Final Thoughts
Choosing to speak my native language to my child turned out to be one of the best parenting decisions I’ve made. It wasn’t always easy or comfortable, but I felt empowered by the science behind bilingualism. Whether the second language is spoken widely or not, the cognitive and developmental benefits are real—and they last a lifetime. This was also the inspiration for my business Fun World Language Academy, where we offer Spanish, French, and German language classes for children.
If you’re on the fence about raising your child bilingually, I hope this helps you feel more confident about your decision. Every language your child hears and speaks is a gift—not just for communication, but for their brain, their identity, and their future.