Q: My child mixes the two languages. What should I do?

A: There are very few bilingual families where the child does not mix the two languages, at the very least in the early stages.

Some people are concerned about the purity of a language - and for some parents, it may be difficult to listen to a mixed-up version. But from a child's point of view, any language mixing is just helping to communicate the message - language is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Language mixing is typical and to be expected in the early stages of bilingual development.

To help the process of language separation, parents can:

• avoid criticising or pointing out mistakes all the time. Revealing your anxiety and concern won't have a positive effect on a child's language development. In fact, it's more likely to make the problem worse! It can make them inhibited in language, anxious about their bilingualism and may slow down their language development.
• keep their own language boundaries clear. Stick to one language at a time whenever possible, at least when your child is very young. They're going to pick it up from you if you speak one sentence in Welsh and the next in English. They will learn quickly with whom they can 'codeswitch' and with whom they should use one language almost solely.

When language is separated by the way it's used by different people, in different contexts, even different times of the week or day, a child will learn that language is 'compartmentalised' in this way. They will eventually pick up when and where to use the right language, and separate out their Welsh and English.

For more information see the 'Education in Welsh' section.

Q: My three and a half year old son will shortly be starting in a Welsh medium school. As neither my husband nor I speak Welsh at home I am concerned that he should be exposed to as much Welsh as possible. We currently read him stories at bedtime in both Welsh and English. I am also concerned that his English (currently very good) will suffer. Should we be favouring Welsh books in order to assist his language development or English books and assume that sufficient weight will be given to the Welsh language during school hours?
Jenny Owen

A: Dear Jenny,
Thank you for your query. It sounds as if you're doing the best possible thing in preparing your son for a Welsh school by reading to him and making sure that he becomes accustomed to hearing the language. It will not sound utterly new and foreign to him when he starts school, which is very important. For further advice on preparing him for the school, the best thing to do would be to speak to either the head teacher or your son's designated class teacher at the school. They will be able to advise you on how best to prepare your son for starting school. It is also worth speaking to the local education authority - the early years learning adviser there will be able to advise you on the best approach. Thank you - we hope this helps.