Research has shown that it is important to support children’s home languages while also helping them develop English. In this resource, explore how home visitors can work with families to support bilingualism. Discover strategies to work with infants, toddlers, and preschool children to support their learning in the Big Five for All areas of early literacy for dual language learners (DLLs). Find a comprehensive list of helpful resources at the end of the handout.
This handout provides strategies and resources to support home visitors who work with families of children who are dual language learners (DLLs). While English mastery is important for success in school, research shows that being fluent in more than one language contributes to academic success. In fact, supporting home language builds an important foundation for learning English and for all later learning. When working with families of children who are DLLs, home visitors might try the following strategies:
Strategies to Reinforce the Value of Bilingualism
- Support families as they learn to view their home language as a gift to pass down to their child.
- Encourage families to honor the strength of their home language and use it to support their relationships.
- Make it clear to families that their child benefits most from words, stories, songs, and conversations provided in the language they are most comfortable speaking. This helps their child learn in both their home language and in English.
- Use hand gestures, body movements, or other visual aids to demonstrate ideas when working with a family who speaks a language you don’t understand. Show video clips of responsive practices and bring key messages that have been translated for the family.
- Build families’ confidence as they use their home language as the best way to communicate and nurture their child to strengthen parent-child relationships.
- Provide some socialization activities in the family’s home language and some in English to achieve a level of balance that supports strong bilingual skills.
- Share ways families can help their child learn English so they are ready for school. Assure them that their child will learn English during socialization activities and interactions in the community. For children birth to age 3, there should be a focus on home language development with exposure to English; for children ages 4 and 5, the focus includes English acquisition along with home language.
- Work with families to understand what English and home language supports their child might receive in their local school district as they prepare their child to start school. If the family is interested in supporting English language learning at home, they may want to introduce some stories and songs in English, but this can be just a small part of each day or week.
Dual Language Learners Strategies for Home-Based Option
A planned language approach (PLA) is a comprehensive, systemic, research-based way for Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care programs to ensure ideal language and literacy services for children who speak only English and for those who are dual language learners (DLLs). The PLA includes five key components: a research base; home language support; strategies to support DLLs; policies, practices, and systems; and the Big 5 for All.
To be ready for school, young children who are DLLs and those who speak English require many experiences in each of the Big 5 skill areas. The Big 5 are Background Knowledge, Oral Language and Vocabulary, Book Knowledge and Print Concepts, Alphabet Knowledge and Early Writing, and Phonological Awareness. Definitions for each of these are included in the Big 5:
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Resource Type: Publication
National Centers: Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning
Last Updated: January 15, 2025