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Voices from the Field: The Early Education and Care of Emergent Bilingual and Multilingual Infants and Toddlers

by Luisiana Melendez and Sharon Syc
September/October 2021
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Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/voices-fro/5026114/

In recent decades, the number of infants and toddlers in the United States growing up with more than one language has been increasing steadily, and diversifying in regard to the languages these children are exposed to during their first years. However, efforts to apply what is currently known about the impact of early bilingual or multilingual exposure to early care and education are scarce, notwithstanding evidence that at birth children have the potential to develop two or more languages (Bialystok, 2017; Barac et al., 2014; Byers-Heinlein & Lew-Williams, 2013; Hoff et al., 2012; Nicoladis et al., 2016; Winsler et al., 2014).

This paper uses data from conversations with practitioners and administrators from two agencies serving dual language learners aged birth to 3, and their families, to highlight the opportunities and challenges these administrators and practitioners associate with their work with young emergent bilinguals or multilinguals and their families. These agencies have a long-standing record of serving large numbers of racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse children and families, and both have been recognized by the state quality rating system as programs that meet or go beyond quality standards in learning environment and teaching quality, administrative standards, and training and education. 

Both agencies are ...

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