As parents, we all want to give our children the best possible start in life. We enroll them in activities, encourage their curiosity, and do our best to set them up for success. But did you know that something as simple as having books in the home can make a huge difference in a child's academic performance?
The Power of a Home Library
Studies have shown that children who grow up surrounded by books tend to perform better in school. Research published in the journal Social Science Research found that having as few as 20 books at home can positively impact a child’s literacy and numeracy skills. And the more books they have access to, the greater the benefits!
The study, which spanned 27 countries over 20 years, discovered that a home filled with books can be as impactful as additional years of schooling—giving children an advantage in reading, writing, and math. Even in homes where parents may not be highly educated, simply having books around provides a strong foundation for learning.
Why This Matters for Multilingual Families
For parents raising bilingual or multilingual children, having books in multiple languages is even more powerful. Here’s why:
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Stronger Language Development
Books provide rich exposure to vocabulary, sentence structures, and storytelling in each language your child is learning. This helps them develop fluency and confidence in both their dominant and heritage languages. -
Better Academic Outcomes
Research shows that children who are bilingual often perform better in problem-solving and critical thinking tasks. Strong literacy skills in multiple languages can improve cognitive flexibility and boost overall academic performance. -
Cultural Connection
Books in your child’s heritage language help them stay connected to their cultural roots, strengthening their sense of identity and belonging. -
Smooth Transition Between Languages
Reading the same story in different languages allows children to make connections between words, grammar, and meaning across languages. This strengthens their ability to switch between languages with ease.
How to Build a Book-Rich Home for Your Multilingual Child
- Stock up on books in both languages – Make sure your child has access to books in their school language and their heritage language.
- Read together daily – Even if it's just for 10 minutes, consistent exposure to books fosters a love for reading.
- Make it fun – Use voices, act out stories, and engage with the illustrations to keep them interested.
- Encourage storytelling – Let your child “read” to you, even if they’re just narrating from the pictures. This builds their confidence in both languages.
Bring Multilingual Stories into Your Home!
If you're looking for high-quality picture books in Hindi, Japanese, Italian, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese, check out Polyglot Tales! Our beautifully illustrated books are designed to make language learning fun, natural, and engaging for young readers.
📚 Explore our collection today and start building your child's multilingual library!