Supporting Multilingual Children During Distance Learning: What Parents Can Do at Home

by Amanda Archbald

Periods of uncertainty can place pressure on families in many different ways. When schools move to distance learning, parents often find themselves supporting lessons, routines and emotional wellbeing all at once.

For multilingual families, an additional question often emerges.

How can I help my child with schoolwork if the language of the school is not the language I speak most confidently?

This concern is very common. Many parents worry that they will not be able to support learning if they are not fluent in English or if their child is learning through a language that is still developing.

The reassuring truth is that parents do not need to speak perfect English to support their child’s learning. In fact, one of the most powerful tools families have at home is the language they already share with their child.

Language development, thinking and emotional wellbeing are deeply connected. Conversations in any language help children process ideas, explain their thinking and make sense of what they are learning.

During distance learning, these everyday conversations can be one of the most important forms of support a parent can offer.

Talk about learning in the language you know best

Children benefit greatly from explaining what they have learned. Parents can encourage this by asking simple questions about the school day or the tasks their child completed.

Questions such as:

• What did you learn today?
• What was interesting today?
• Was anything difficult?

These conversations do not need to take place in English. When children explain ideas in their strongest language, they are strengthening their understanding of the concept itself. The thinking transfers across languages.

Let your child teach you

One of the most effective ways to deepen learning is to explain something to another person.

Parents can invite children to teach them something they learned during the day. This could be a new science idea, a maths method or a new word in English.

When children take the role of the teacher, they organise their thinking, revisit what they learned and gain confidence in their knowledge.

Focus on understanding rather than translation

When children encounter a difficult task, parents sometimes feel pressure to translate everything into English or into the home language.

This is not always necessary.

Instead, parents can ask children to explain the idea in the language they feel most comfortable. If a child can clearly explain a concept in their home language, it is a strong sign that they understand it. The academic language in English will continue to develop through school exposure and practice.

Create a simple learning routine

Distance learning can feel overwhelming if the day has no structure.

Children benefit from a predictable routine that might include:

• A regular start time for school tasks
• A quiet space where possible
• Short breaks between activities
• A clear time when learning finishes for the day

Structure helps children stay focused and reduces stress for both parents and children.

Prioritise emotional wellbeing

During times of regional or global uncertainty, children are often aware that something is happening around them, even if they do not fully understand it.

They may hear news, conversations or see changes in daily routines.

Parents can support children by creating space for conversation and reassurance. Simply asking how a child is feeling and allowing them to talk about their worries can make a significant difference.

These conversations are best held in the language children feel safest using. Emotional expression is always strongest in the language of home.

Remember that multilingualism is a strength

In multilingual families, language is often seen as something that needs to be managed or overcome in education.

In reality, it is one of the greatest resources a child has.

Children who can think, question and explain ideas across languages develop flexible thinking and strong conceptual understanding. Home language conversations support this development rather than hinder it.

During distance learning, the most important things parents can offer are stability, conversation and encouragement.

None of these require perfect English.

What children need most right now is the reassurance that learning continues, that questions are welcome, and that the language of home remains a powerful tool for thinking and understanding.