Raising Bilingual Children in Early Years: What We See at Little Starlings

Many of the families we welcome at Little Starlings Nursery Balham are raising their children with two or more languages. It is something we see regularly across our community in Balham, Tooting, and the surrounding areas, and it is one of the things that makes our nursery such a rich and interesting place to be.

If you are raising a bilingual child, you may have wondered whether nursery will help or hinder that process. From what we see every day, the answer is reassuring.

What bilingual development actually looks like

One of the most common things parents mention when they first visit us is that their child seems to mix languages, or that they appear quieter than expected when they start nursery. This is completely normal, and in our experience it is usually temporary.

Children who are learning two languages at the same time are doing something genuinely complex. They are not confused. They are working hard. What can look like a delay or a muddle is often simply the brain organising a much bigger task than a child learning one language alone.

We often see bilingual children go through a quieter phase when they first join us, sometimes called a silent period, where they are listening and absorbing before they begin speaking freely. At Little Starlings, we do not rush children through this. Our key person approach means each child has someone who knows them well, notices what they are taking in, and gives them the time and space they need.

How we support bilingual children day to day

We do not have a one-size-fits-all approach, because bilingual children are not a one-size-fits-all group. A child who speaks Portuguese at home and is just beginning to hear English is in a very different place from a child who has been switching between Urdu and English since birth.

What we focus on is relationship first. When a child feels safe and known by their key person, language follows. Some of the things we find helpful include:

• Welcoming home languages genuinely. If a child says a word in their home language, we do not correct them or redirect. We acknowledge it and build from there.
• Talking with parents about the words and phrases their child uses at home. Simple things, like how a child asks for water, or what they call their favourite toy, help us connect with them faster.
• Using visual cues, gesture, and routine to help children feel confident even before their English is fully established.
• Reading books together in our small groups, which gives children repeated exposure to language patterns in a relaxed setting.

Our trips to the local library are particularly lovely for this. Hearing stories read aloud, browsing books, and sitting together in a calm space all support language development in a very natural way.

What parents sometimes worry about

Parents often ask us whether speaking a language other than English at home will slow their child down before school. We understand why this feels like a concern, but from what we observe, it is not something to worry about.

Children who have a strong foundation in their home language tend to transfer skills across to English more readily. The stronger the roots, the better. We always encourage parents to keep speaking their home language with confidence at home. That is not working against nursery. It is working alongside it.

Some parents also worry that their child will feel different or left out. Again, in our experience, children are far less focused on language difference than adults tend to be. What children respond to is warmth, consistency, and feeling like they belong. That is what we build from the start through our Calm Start settling in programme.

Settling in when your child is bilingual

Our Calm Start programme is designed to follow your child's lead, and this matters especially for bilingual children who may need a little longer to find their footing in a new language environment. Sessions begin at around an hour and build gradually. There is no fixed timeline. Some children settle within a week. Some take a little longer, and that is entirely fine.

We keep in close contact with parents through our Tapestry journal, so you can see what your child is doing, what they are saying, and how they are connecting with other children and staff. If there is anything we notice that we think is useful for you to know, we will share it.

A community where many languages are spoken

One of the things I genuinely value about working in Balham is the mix of families we meet. Many children here grow up with grandparents who speak a different language, parents who move between two languages in a single conversation, or home lives where English is one part of a bigger picture.

That is not a challenge to navigate. It is a strength to build on.

If you would like to come and see how we work, meet the team, and get a feel for the nursery, we would love to show you around. You can book a tour directly on our website, and we will find a time that suits you.