Raising a Bilingual Child in Cambodia: What Parents Should Know About Language Development

Khmer at home, English at school, and perhaps another language with family. Bilingualism is a strength, but it can sometimes make language development difficult to understand.

Khmer at home. English at school. Perhaps a third language with grandparents or extended family. For many families in Cambodia, growing up with more than one language is simply part of everyday life.

Bilingualism is a strength. But sometimes, typical bilingual language development can look like a delay.

Many families in Phnom Penh are raising children across two or more languages. A child may hear Khmer at home, English at school, and perhaps Mandarin or another language with extended family. This is increasingly common.

But parents may understandably have questions when their child mixes languages, seems to speak later than expected, or appears to be developing differently from children who speak only one language.

Bilingualism Does Not Cause Language Delay

This is one of the most important things for parents to know.

Growing up with two or more languages does not, by itself, cause a language delay.

Bilingual children reach major language milestones at broadly similar ages to children learning one language. However, bilingual language development can look different from monolingual development.

A child's vocabulary may be spread across two or more languages.

For example, they may know certain words in Khmer and other words in English depending on where and with whom they use each language.

Looking at just one language may therefore not give a complete picture of what a child understands and can communicate.

What Can Typical Bilingual Language Development Look Like?

Bilingual children may:

Mix languages in the same sentence

This is known as code-switching, and it is a normal part of bilingual language development. Children may use the word that comes most easily to them in the moment, regardless of which language it belongs to.

Have different strengths in different languages

A child may be more comfortable talking about school in English but use Khmer more often when talking with family. Their language strengths can also change depending on their experiences and the environments they spend time in.

Understand more than they say in one language

A child may understand a language well but use fewer words in it, especially if they have fewer opportunities to speak that language.

Prefer one language during certain periods

Children may go through phases where they prefer speaking one language more than another. This can change over time as their environments, relationships and language exposure change.

Take time to adjust to a new language environment

Some children may speak less when they are first introduced to a new language environment. This can be part of adjusting to a new setting, although the length and nature of this period can vary from child to child.

When Might a Child Need Additional Support?

Bilingualism itself does not cause a language delay. If a child is experiencing a language or communication difficulty, it is likely to affect their ability to communicate across the languages they regularly use, rather than only one language.

This is why it is important to look at the whole picture.

You may wish to discuss your concerns with a speech and language therapist if your child:

• Has very limited communication across the languages they regularly hear and use.

• Has difficulty understanding or following everyday instructions across their languages.

• Is difficult to understand, even for familiar listeners.

• Rarely tries to communicate with others.

• Has difficulty expressing their needs, ideas or experiences.

• Seems to be experiencing ongoing difficulties with communication in more than one language.

A child does not need to stop using one language while waiting for support. And families should not feel that they need to give up the language that is most natural and meaningful to them.

How Can Families Support Bilingual Language Development?

The best language for families to use is often the language in which they can communicate most naturally and comfortably with their child. Children benefit from rich, meaningful interaction.

You can support your child's communication by:

• Talking about the things your child is interested in.

• Sharing books and stories in the languages you use at home.

• Singing songs and playing games together.

• Talking during everyday routines such as meals, bath time and getting dressed.

• Giving your child time to respond.

• Following your child's lead and building on what they are already trying to communicate.

You do not need to choose between supporting your child's home language and supporting another language. Children can learn and use more than one language.

The most important thing is that they have meaningful opportunities to communicate and connect with the people around them.

How Smilestones Can Support Your Family

At Smilestones Cambodia, we look at the whole communication picture.

This means considering the languages your child hears and uses, the people they communicate with, the environments they are part of, and how they understand and express themselves.

We do not expect every child to develop each language in exactly the same way.

Instead, we work with families to understand their child's individual communication strengths and needs, and to identify practical strategies that support communication in everyday life.

For families raising bilingual or multilingual children, support should work with the languages that are meaningful to your family.

If you are concerned about your child's communication, you do not have to stop using your home language or wait until your child is struggling in every language before seeking support.

Understanding your child's communication across their languages is an important first step.

At Smilestones Cambodia, we are here to help families understand what their child's communication is telling them and find a way forward that works for their family.