Raising a bilingual child in Singapore: a home plan for any language pair

You can start raising a bilingual child in Singapore with one plain rule: each adult speaks the language they know best, every day. Add books, songs and playdates in both languages, and keep practice relaxed. ASHA says two languages don't confuse children or cause speech delay. Mixing them in one sentence is a normal stage too.

How to raise a bilingual child at home, step by step

1. Decide who speaks what. The NHS in Devon suggests one language per parent, or the home language at home and English outside it.
2. Speak the language you know best for everyday talk. ASHA says this helps your child learn sounds, new words and full sentences.
3. Talk through routines in your home language: bath time, meals, the walk to the playground. The NHS in Cambridgeshire suggests talking about whatever you're doing together.
4. Read and sing in both languages daily. Borrow picture books in each language from your NLB library; our guide on where to buy and borrow children's books lists more places.
5. Bring in grandparents and your helper. Ask each adult to use the language they speak most easily, so your child hears more voices in each language.
6. Set up playdates with children who speak your home language, as the NHS in Cambridgeshire suggests.
7. Keep practice low-pressure. If your child answers in English, repeat their words back in your language instead of correcting them.
8. Keep screens small and shared. MOH guidance on HealthHub is no screens under 18 months except video calls, and under 1 hour a day from 18 months to 6 years, watched together.
9. Join programmes from MOE's Chinese, Malay and Tamil language committees. The table further down lists what each one runs.

Bilingual toddlers talk on the same timeline

ASHA says most children learning more than one language say their first words by 1 year and two-word phrases like "my ball" by 2, the same as children learning one. If those first words come from different languages, they still count. The NHS in Cambridgeshire says there's no evidence that bilingual children are slower to talk.

Mixing is normal. ASHA says blending words or grammar from two languages is an expected part of learning both. The NHS in Devon says it's fine for your child to mix languages in one sentence, and fine for you to do it too.

KKH's speech therapist notes that children learning one language are expected to have over 200 words at 24 months. The same figure for bilingual Singapore children hasn't been established yet. So when you tally words, add up both languages.

Choose a language split your family can keep

ASHA describes three ways children split their languages: by speaker, by setting and by topic. Most Singapore homes end up with some mix. The NHS in Cambridgeshire says the quality of your time together matters most, so choose the split you can keep up.

Whichever you pick, keep your everyday talk in your strongest language. The NHS in Devon points out that children pick up our mistakes in a language that doesn't come easily to us.

When home and preschool use different languages

If your family speaks Mandarin, Malay or Tamil and preschool runs in English, keep your home language going. The NHS in Cambridgeshire says you don't need to switch to English at home. A child who is comfortable in their first language learns English quickly from that base, it says. Ask about the preschool day in your language.

Expect a quiet phase. The NHS in Devon says children starting at an English-speaking nursery often go through a silent stage for a few months, and it usually passes. If you want more English, Devon suggests the home language at home and English outside: the library, the playground, the hawker centre.

If your home runs in English and your child needs Chinese, Malay or Tamil for school, lean on the people who speak it well, usually grandparents. Use songs, rhymes and picture books even if your own Mandarin is rusty. At MOE's 2024 Mother Tongue Languages Symposium, the Education Minister urged parents to use their mother tongue with their children "regardless of the standard we think we are at".

To choose a preschool, see our guide to Mandarin preschools in Singapore. For how Chinese is taught from Primary 1, read Chinese enrichment in Singapore, and for English support in primary school, our English tuition guide.

Local help for each language

Each mother tongue has its own committee set up by MOE, and each runs something for families.

MOE says the CPCLL workshop will be expanded to Malay and Tamil once the pilot is reviewed. For the details, see the MLLPC, TPC and NLB pages, and the Speak Good English Movement site.

At preschool, MOE Kindergartens build English and mother tongue together through Big Books, songs, rhymes and games, under MOE's Nurturing Early Learners framework for ages 4 to 6. For a reading habit in either language, see how to get your child to love reading.

When to get help

Look at your child's talking across all their languages together. ASHA says a real communication problem shows up in every language a child uses. The NHS in Devon says dropping to one language doesn't help a child who is struggling, so keep both and get a check.

NUH's Child Development Unit lists these speech red flags, among others. Count every language:

• By 18 months: no single words. KKH's speech therapist also strongly recommends a check if there are no first words by then.
• By 2 years: not yet putting 2 words together.
• By 2.5 years: people who know your child well still can't understand them.
• By 3 years: not speaking in 3-word sentences.
• By 4 years: not speaking in 4- to 5-word sentences.
• At any age: losing words or skills your child used to have.

NUH says to speak to your child's doctor straight away if you notice a red flag. HealthHub says to start with your family doctor, polyclinic or paediatrician, who can refer a preschooler to NUH's Child Development Unit or KKH's Department of Child Development. Tell the doctor what grandparents, your helper and preschool teachers notice too. Our guide to toddler speech milestones and delay covers the full checklist.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start raising a bilingual child in Singapore?

Decide which adult speaks which language, and have each person use the language they know best. ASHA advises using your languages with your child often and as early as possible. Then build in books, songs and talk in both languages every day.

Can I teach my toddler Mandarin at home if I don't speak it well?

Yes. Keep everyday talk in your strongest language, and bring Mandarin in through songs, rhymes, picture books and grandparents. CPCLL's free workshop for parents of babies showed how to fit Mandarin into daily care. ASHA says to encourage your child to talk even when they make mistakes, and the same goes for you.

How do I help my preschooler learn English if we speak Mandarin at home?

Keep Mandarin at home and let English come from preschool, books and outings. The NHS in Cambridgeshire says a child who is comfortable in their first language learns English quickly. If your child needs more English, the NHS in Devon suggests the home language at home and English outside. A quiet few months at a new English preschool is common.

Does speaking two languages cause speech delay?

No. ASHA says using more than one language doesn't confuse children or cause speech or language delays. If a child does have a speech or language problem, it shows up in every language, so check the red flags above across both and talk to your doctor if you're unsure.

Is it okay if my child mixes English and Mandarin in one sentence?

Yes. ASHA calls mixing an expected part of learning two languages, and the NHS in Devon says it's fine for you to mix too. If your child answers in English, say it back in your language rather than correcting them.

Should we stop speaking our mother tongue so our child learns English?

No. The NHS in Cambridgeshire says you don't need to switch to English at home. The NHS in Devon says children with strong home language skills pick up other languages more easily.