Not long ago, the prevailing belief was that multilingual learners should not use their home languages at school. Doing so would harm their English language development and, ultimately, their success in school and life. This prevailing belief turned out to be wrong. There is now recognition and evidence about the power of developing and learning in more than one language.

Yet early childhood educators may not know how best to support multilingual learners in their settings. This issue of Teaching Young Children is devoted to helping you address the assets and needs of children who are learning more than one language. You’ll find articles on creating learning environments and communities that draw on multilingual learners’ strengths and interests. Articles also explore practical strategies and materials to nurture children’s content knowledge in these spaces. Be sure to share with families the Message in a Backpack™ about the benefits of multilingualism. It is available in English and in Spanish.

Reflection Questions for This Issue

1. What are some of the messages you’ve heard about multilingualism?
2. In what ways do the articles in this issue align with or challenge these messages?
3. After reflecting on the content of this issue, what is one change you can make in how you support multilingual learners in your setting?
4. This issue includes an article about play. Consider ways that you can integrate supportive practices before, during, and after children’s play in your setting.