Advertisement

Bilingual children have a greater advantage in learning over others, study claims

Bilingual children
Bilingual toddlers develop the ability to control their impulses faster than others [Photo: Getty]

According to a recent study by the University of Oregon, bilingual children have an advantage over those who only speak one language, reports The Independent.

For instance, those who juggle two languages learn to have inhibitory control at a speed greater than those who only possess one.

Inhibitory control means that the toddlers develop the ability to stop an innate response in decision-making and behaviour.

The experiment, published in the journal Developmental Science, used a sample of 1,146 children. The toddlers were first assessed for their inhibitory control aged four and then again 18 months later.

Bilingual children
Bilingual toddlers have greater advantages in learning than others, new study suggests [Photo: Getty]

For the study, the children were divided into three groups. One for those who only speak English, one for those who speak Spanish and English and one for those who originally only spoke Spanish but were fluent in both by the end of the study.

At six and 18 months, the children were assessed using the pencil-tapping task. This involves the participant tapping a pencil on the desk twice when the experimenter only taps once.

The child must inhibit the impulse to copy what the experimenter does and do the opposite each time.

The bilingual team and the group who had developed both languages by the end of the study both showed faster inhibitory control development than the English speaking children.

https://www.yahoo.com/kids-making-healthier-choices-study-155700382.html?format=embed®ion=GB&lang=en-GB&site=news&expType=wordpressrelatedvideo

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

16 photos that prove you should never leave your children unattended

Why one mum has no problem punishing your kid

This potty training story about a ‘rolling poo’ is the funniest thing you’ll read all day