Question

The PNP is offering anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 12-month-old child. The parents are bilingual in Spanish and English and have many Spanish-speaking relatives nearby. They are resisting exposing their child to Spanish out of concern that the child will not learn English well. What will the PNP tell the parents?

A) Encourage exclusive English exposure
B) Advise alternating languages regularly
C) Suggest delaying language exposure until later
D) Promote bilingualism for cognitive benefits

Answer 1

The PNP will recommend promoting bilingualism due to its cognitive benefits and the strong evidence supporting the advantages of bilingual education in child development.

Step-by-step explanation:

The PNP (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner) will advise the parents to promote bilingualism for cognitive benefits. Evidence from research, including studies by Johns Hopkins University, shows that bilingual education can lead to better progress than monolingual education. Encouraging the child to learn both Spanish and English can lead to greater cognitive reinforcement. Moreover, societal trends support the assimilation of bilingualism, as seen in the use of multiple languages in signage and product information. Additionally, familiarity with multiple languages ensures cultural and economic benefits. Given the bilingual environment and family context, it would provide a rich linguistic foundation that can enhance the child's overall communication skills and cognitive development.