Language stimulation of young multilingual children

What is language stimulation?

Language stimulation is educational activity which has as its goal the linguistic advancement of children. This is done by consciously working with child concept formation and vocabulary using goal-oriented educational activities such as play and movement. In every activity, it is important to speak with the children and help them attach words to things, circumstances, and concepts.

What is the goal of language stimulation?

In schools, the language of instruction is Danish. It is therefore important that children are proficient Danish-speakers already before they are enrolled in preschool class or first grade in schools. Under the Primary Education Act, language stimulation is specifically directed at multilingual children, who need a little extra help achieving a sufficient profiency in the Danish language before commencing primary education. As of August 1^st 2004, language stimulation is mandatory. This is in order to ensure that all children benefit fully - both academically and socially - from the instruction once they start school.

Who will receive language stimulation?

Multilingual children are children who use more than one language in their day-to-day lives, and who do not learn Danish until they encounter it in their contact with, for instance, child care institutions or schools.

Language stimulation is thus directed at children with very varied backgrounds. It could be children born in Denmark, or children born abroad. Children of refugee families, children arriving in Denmark through family reunification, or children adopted from abroad. Or it could be children from homes where a language other than Danish is spoken for any number of reasons other than the above.

Qualified staff in the municipality or in the child care institution will assess which children are in need of language stimulation.

Language stimulation is mandatory for any multilingual child who is found to need it. The language stimulation programme includes children from the age of three and up until they are of school age.

Where will language stimulation take place?

It is up to the individual municipalities to organize language stimulation in or outside of child care institutions.

For children who are in a child care institution, the language stimulation will usually be related to the child care institution and take place there, or nearby.

For children who are not in a child care institution, the municipality will make special arrangements. This arrangement will have a duration of at least 15 hours per week.

It is also possible for parents to take care of the language stimulation, either in the home or in the form of a privately organized arrangement. If parents decide to take care of the language stimulation for themselves after this fashion, the municipality must be notified in writing before the beginning of language stimulation. The municipal council is charged with overseeing this type of private language stimulation arrangement.

What can I do to help my child?

The best thing you as parents can do for your child in this regard is to support your child's linguistic development by talking with him/her a lot, and about many different topics. This could be in Danish, or in your child's mother tongue.

Your child is stimulated by experiences both within and outside of the home. Include your child in activities that correspond to what your child can handle and benefit from, under consideration of his/her age. Speak with your child a lot, and sing to him/her and read him/her stories and then talk about the substance thereof.

At the library you may borrow children's books in Danish. Larger libraries will often also have books in your child's mother tongue, and all libraries may order books in your child's mother tongue from the collection of the Danish Library Centre for Integration. You can find out what books are available to be shipped to you in the Danish Library Centre for Integration catalogue, which you will find at your local library.

It is crucial that you as parents regard your child's multilingual background as a strength so that your child may find joy and comfort in his/her languages.