As parents, you have the wonderful and sometimes stressful responsibility of shaping your child’s educational journey. With seemingly endless options available for your child, it is a challenge to know what can best help their brain development. Learning a second language should be a standout option, regardless of culture or popularity.

What if the next generation could understand and learn from their counterparts around the world, without language barriers? That social phenomenon could help solve misunderstandings and cultural divides through a variety of communication channels. It all starts with children.

There are many benefits for children who learn more than one language. Bilingual students are exposed to different perspectives, ideas and cultures. A second language can offer a child new opportunities for self-expression. For students who speak a different language at home than the primary language spoken at their school, bilingual education can be a source for increased self-esteem. In the long term, speaking more than one language may mitigate the effects, or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

As our world has become more of a global economy, there are many things to learn outside of the local culture. One of the more important skill sets in understanding other cultures and communities is by learning their language.