Tips for families
Children can grow up with more than one language from birth. What helps most is simple: hearing the language every day, a clear plan for who speaks what and when, and plenty of real, warm conversation.
Most multilingual families use one of these plans, or a mix of them. The best one is the one your family can keep up day after day.
Each parent or regular carer sticks to one language with the child, every time. One speaks Yugambeh, the other speaks English, and the child learns to link each language with a person.
The whole family speaks the heritage language inside the house, and the outside world takes care of English: school, shops, friends and screens.
Languages take turns by clear rules: Yugambeh on certain days, at certain times, or in certain places or activities, like meals, bath time, bedtime stories or time on Country.
Answer two quick questions for a suggestion. You can always mix and change plans as your family grows.
Whichever plan you choose, these small habits make the biggest difference.
Ten minutes every day beats an hour once a week. Steady, daily exposure is what builds a language.
Share a book every day, and read the same ones again and again. Repetition is how new words stick. Start with our Nyamul books.
Songs, rhymes and games carry language without any pressure. Children remember what they sing.
Put Yugambeh words where your child will see them: doors, cupboards, the fridge. Our picture books help too.
Children who blend two languages in one sentence are not confused. It is a normal part of growing up multilingual.
You do not need to be fluent to start. Learning together shows your child the language matters, and every word you use counts.
Grandparents, Elders, cousins and time on Country give the language life beyond the home and show it belongs to a whole community.
Notice and praise each new word. Gently repeat it back the right way rather than correcting, and keep it fun.
Many children understand far more than they say, and may answer in English for a while. Keep speaking Yugambeh; the words are going in.
Everyday routines are perfect for language because they repeat. Pick one or two to start with and add more as you grow.
Say good morning and name the day's first things: clothes, breakfast, the weather.
Name foods, colours and "more" or "finished". Mealtimes come round three times a day.
Point out birds, animals, plants and places by their Yugambeh names on walks.
Name body parts, splash words and actions while you wash and play.
Read a Goomp Goomp book together, and end the day with the same words each night.
Tap a card to turn it over.
Our Nyamul books are made for the very first words.