The home language remains important
alongside Dutch
Language development does not only happen at school. Talking, telling stories, reading together and showing interest in what a child is learning all help build language skills.
A child can use the language the family knows best at home. A well-developed home language can actually support learning a second language. The existing website refers, among other things, to Taal begint thuis and information about multilingual parenting.
Information for parents
| Topic | Why this matters |
|---|---|
| Language starts at home | Talking, reading and sharing stories gives children extra language experience outside school. |
| Reading aloud | Reading together supports vocabulary, comprehension and enjoyment of language. |
| Parenting in two languages | Multilingualism is part of life for many families. Clear, rich language in the languages parents know well gives children a strong foundation. |
| Swimming lessons | Swimming ability is an important practical matter for children and families in the Netherlands. |
| Homework | Parents can show interest, provide structure and contact the school if assignments are unclear. |
| Screen time | Clear agreements about phones, tablets, games and videos help maintain calm and balance. |
| Parenting questions | Low-threshold parenting support is available in the Netherlands. Parents can ask the school about the school social worker. |
Read more
These websites provide practical information about language development, reading aloud and multilingual parenting.
Language starts at home
A well-developed home language helps children learn a new language. This website provides tips for supporting your child’s language development.
Visit websiteVoorleesExpress
Information about reading together, enjoyment of language and books, and the support VoorleesExpress can provide to families.
Visit VoorleesExpressParenting in two languages
Do you speak different languages at home? That is good for your child. Read more about growing up multilingual and language use at home.
Read about multilingualismInformation in several languages
The multilingual information from the existing website remains available by topic.
| Topic | Languages and downloads |
|---|---|
| The importance of reading aloud | English · Polish · Arabic |
| 10 tips for reading aloud | English · Polish · Arabic |
| The importance of swimming lessons | Chinese · Arabic · Polish |
| Supporting your child with homework | English · Polish · Arabic |
| Dealing with screen time | English · Polish · Arabic |
| Parenting tips | Tigrinya · Polish · Arabic |