Introduction
The first few years of your child’s life are the best time for them to learn their native language.
Research from Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child shows that by age 3, about 80% of the brain is developed. At this stage, children learn how to speak, behave, and connect mainly from what they hear at home. This means the first language your child learns becomes a strong base for many of the skills they will build as they grow.
Today, many children are introduced early to English, French, or another language before their native tongue. UNESCO reports that about 40% of learners worldwide aren’t taught in a language they speak at home, and in some countries, this number goes as high as 90%.
It’s normal to wonder whether teaching a native language first might confuse your child or affect how quickly they learn a formal language. These questions come from care and love, and understanding how language learning works can help parents feel more confident in their choices.
In this blog, we’ll explore how native language supports your child’s identity, confidence, language learning, and the strong family bonds that shape their world.
The role of native language in identity
When you meet someone for the first time, one of the things people often ask is, “Where are you from?” Sometimes, you can even tell just by how a person speaks.
Many people speak languages like English or French, but those don’t always show where someone truly comes from. Your child’s native language does. It connects them to their culture, history, and community.
When your child speaks their native language, they’re not just saying words. They’re sharing family names, expressions, jokes, and meanings that only make sense within your culture. This helps them feel proud and confident. It also helps them understand family stories, traditions, and values. This is one of the simple ways culture stays alive.
Cognitive and educational benefits
Children who speak their first language well usually learn other languages faster. You might also see them doing better in school.
A firm grasp of their native language helps your child remember information, solve problems, and understand how language works. When they know how words, sentences, and meaning fit together, reading and writing become easier. This skill also helps them succeed in other subjects, not just language.
Learn more about why children learn better in their mother tongue.
Social and family connections
Picture your child having a conversation with their grandparents, laughing, asking questions, and listening to old stories.
When your child speaks their native language, these moments flow easily. They can share love, memories, and history with parents, grandparents, and extended family. These everyday conversations help pass down stories and traditions and give your child a warm sense of belonging.
Sharing a common language makes family connections richer and helps children feel supported and understood at every stage of life.
If you’d like ideas on how to encourage this at home, this guide on how to talk to your child in your native language offers helpful tips.
Preserving culture and heritage
Every native language carries its own stories, songs, and shared knowledge. It reflects a culture’s values and way of life.
When children continue speaking their native language, these traditions stay alive and meaningful. Stories keep their depth, songs are remembered, and cultural values remain part of everyday life. Because language connects the past to the future, teaching it helps families and communities stay rooted while moving forward.
Challenges kids face today
Many schools and communities place strong emphasis on languages like English or French, and children quickly become skilled at navigating more than one language.
With encouragement at home, children can learn to value both their native language and formal languages. When parents show pride in their native language, children often feel more comfortable using it in different spaces and situations.
This balance helps children grow up confident, adaptable, and connected.
How parents can balance native and formal languages
Teaching both a native language and a formal language like English takes intention, but many families do this successfully every day.
Some parents choose to have one parent speak mainly the native language while the other uses the formal language. Others set simple routines, like using the native language at home and the formal language outside.
What matters most is consistency and patience. Language learning takes time, and children learn best when it happens naturally, through daily conversations, play, and shared moments. With steady exposure, children can grow comfortable and confident in both languages.
Conclusion
When a child speaks their native language, they gain more than vocabulary. They build confidence, identity, and strong connections to family, culture, and the people around them.
By making native language part of everyday life, parents give their children a gift that supports who they are and where they come from.
If you’d like your child to learn and speak their native language with confidence, start today. Our Igbo and Yoruba language classes are designed to make learning fun, simple, and engaging for children.