I've already been teaching my two year old Spanish right alongside with English. Recently, she started repeating me as I practice French words, so I began adding in a few French words to see how she did. Mostly nouns, for example, she says, one, uno, un or hello, hola, bonjour. My husband told me to stop, that it is confusing her. I honestly don't believe she's confused, it seems so natural.
I don't want to harm her. Anyone have any experience with this or suggestions?

I don't think you are harming your daughter at all. They say the younger children can learn a new language the easier it is. Even just a few words, keeps those sounds in their repertoire. Your daughter will just be very well rounded.

I was studying Spanish when my son was little and he would do the same thing. He did a kids' Spanish workshop years later and picked up the word and accent much quicker than other kids.

I have found it true that the older you grow the harder it is to pick up new languages. In my case I'm learning by first hand experience and I'm not that old lol. While not a doctor I wouldn't think you're doing any harm and likely doing much good with this.

I used to speak a bit of arabic to our daughter when she was little only as it was language I used as part of my daily vocab it never bothered her, she started french in school outside france at the age of five and picked it up very fast she has grown up with a great ear for languages and is now studying english french spanish and italian. I think the earlier the better, they never seem to get confused and are quite blasé about it !!

From what I learned in college, it is great to start teaching a second language immediately after acquisition of the first language (about 2 or 3 for most kids). Younger kids definitely pick everything up faster. If you truly want a bilingual child, the sooner the better.

Thanks for all your replies, I'm going to continue teaching her, unless she starts showing negative signs, but I doubt that. It's so rewarding to hear her. She asked for a cup of juice and when I gave it to her she said, "Gracias." Instead of thank you. She's already truly incorporating the languages!

I think it is great to teach your children multiple languages. It will help them more in the long run. I plan to practice more in the near future.

In my opinion, your daughter is very lucky! This will prevent her from struggling (as I do) with languages when she is older. I think it's great for her.

It is a wonderful idea to teach children multiple languages when they are younger and it will make it easier for them to pick up new languages when they are older. Kudos to you and your forward thinking!
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I so wish I had had an opportunity as a child to become multi-lingual. As it is, I just have a terrible ear for languages so have learned to read and write a couple, but have the worst time speaking them. It hasn't mattered whether I've lived in the country or not!

I am a language teacher and have studied Montessori education. In Montessori, we are taught that young children with ages 6 or below can learn anything easily as they still have absorbent minds. It is in these ages that they must be exposed to whatever it is that we want them to be familiar. With regards to languages, they can learn and at the same time love the language through constant practice. Remember though, that it won't be very easy for a child to master any language unless he/she masters his/her first language so my advice is that even if you teach her a little of the other languages, concentrate on your native tongue. In a way, your husband is still right. :)

Your daughter is very lucky! keep on doing what you are doing, just make sure that you have good solid conversations in each of the launguages so she doesn't get too confused!

I just wanted to add my take to all this.

My oldest is 10 and she was born in France. We've been to the states many times as well. Before she started school at 3 she was home with me all the time. She spoke more English than French. Since going to school she's been speaking more French. I have NEVER stopped teaching her English so that it wouldn't confuse her French. I have always read to her in English, talked to her in English, basically functioned as if we were in America. She is fluent in English ( at a level for a 10 year old) and French.

I believe she is this way BECAUSE I gave her access to English constantly. She sees herself as and American so she has learned to function in English. I disagree with anyone who is worried about introducing a 2nd language to a child. THEY WILL NOT BECOME HANDICAPPED in their mother tongue. That is a misconception. I have 3 children and they are all showing the same signs as my oldest: they function in English.

I also teach English at school 4 days a week. I studied at university 5 years to become a English-as-a-foreign-language teacher. I see the same thing with my french students. If you expect them to understand and "get it" they will. Many of my kids' friends come to our house and I can speak English and they may struggle to understand but they eventually get it. Every last one of them.

I don't want this to be a rude response to some of your posts: I am very passionate about this and just want people to understand. The question is not whether it's a good idea to teach 2 languages to a child, it's a question of "what do you expect from your child". I expect my children to be/become bilingual, to feel American, to realise there in more than one way to look at the world. And because I expect it, they respond that way.

I hope this helps some people who are worried.

Lisa

I am 39 and grew up speaking French only at home with French parents in New York and then only learning English once I started school. Today I speak both languages without an accent. My friends who are bilingual but did not speak as much French as me at home have accents when they speak French. I believe that to become a truly bilingual person with no accents you have to be constantly immersed in both languages. I did mix both languages until the ahe of 9 and then separated them afterwards and I'm fine. In fact, I learned to speak other langiages like Italian very easily (who doesn't learn Italian easily - it's so easy!) So I say immerse in both languages as early as possible.

I bought my DD aged 4 some French songs to listen to in the car. Next thing I know both her and DS aged 2 are singing along quite happily in French, with perfect accents and everything. They have no idea what it all means but it doesn't matter. I'm sure she'll find it easier to learn French when the time comes....