How to Support Your Toddler’s Development? Practical Tips for Parents
Nanny, Grandma, or a Multilingual Nursery – What’s the Best Option for Your Little One?
In all life decisions, we always weigh the pros and cons of each option. A trilingual international nursery will allow your child to naturally acquire three languages and develop social skills that cannot be nurtured in a relationship with just one adult. However, we all have different priorities, so each care solution should be carefully considered according to your needs.
A nanny or grandmother will allow you to have a flexible schedule tailored to your needs, but the nanny or grandmother may become ill or simply change jobs at very short notice. With a nanny or grandmother, children can receive more individualized attention, but they may not learn the important social skills they acquire in a group setting. Children acquire these skills during activities and play at a multilingual nursery.
Qualified teachers at a multilingual nursery know how to best develop young minds, whereas a nanny or grandmother may not have the same skills or knowledge.
How to Choose a Good Private Multilingual Nursery – Practical Tips for Parents
Small Groups – The Foundation of Good Care
Our one-year-old groups are formed when the first child joins. After 10 months of the school year, the groups have a maximum of 10 children. Each one-year-old group, regardless of whether it has one or ten children enrolled, always has two teachers – native speakers of the language.
Individualized Approach to Each Child
A small group not only means more attentive teachers but also a reduced risk of constant infections, which often affect children in large, overcrowded settings. Children will, of course, get sick – it’s a natural part of building immunity – but in a small group, they can strengthen their immune system in a safe and more controlled way. This gives the child a healthy start and the parents greater stability and the ability to continue their careers.
This ratio allows for almost individualized care, a complete sense of security and closeness, and, at the same time, daily contact with a rich linguistic environment.
This allows the children to feel safe and at ease, experiencing natural, immersive play and language activities every day that support their development.
Authentic Language Environment from the Very First Days
Children hear languages not only in class, but throughout the day – during play, meals, activities, and daily rituals. Learning occurs naturally, just as it does in multilingual families. Children hear natural accents, idioms, and the melody of the language every day. The teachers at ITSW nursery are international, teaching the children not only the language but also the culture of their home country.
Daily Program Supporting Comprehensive Development
The daily rhythm combines attentive care with play, music, sensory experiences, movement, and creativity. Languages emerge naturally in all activities. Children hear natural accents, idioms, and the melodies of language every day. ITSW teachers are from different countries, teaching children not only language but also culture.
Stable, committed staff
A low turnover rate means children build lasting relationships and feel safe. Most teachers have been working at ITSW nursery for years! This is a huge asset for children.
Close cooperation with parents
Daily communication, photos, reports, and the teachers’ openness create an atmosphere of trust. Parents receive support from the very first days of their child’s adaptation: they know what’s happening in their child’s life, how they feel, and how to support their development at home.
What Sets ITSW Nursery & Preschool Apart?
A Look Beyond Bilingual Education
| Typical Bilingual Nurseries & Preschools | ITSW – Trilingual Nurseries & Preschool |
|---|---|
| Polish present as main language of instruction with some English present | English and one more language (French, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese) of instruction with some Polish present |
| Languages are taught only within lessons | Language immersion present through the day with all day activities – OPOL Method |
| 1 main teacher and 1 English Speaking (not necessarily native) teacher | Early years qualified, certified teacher and assistant in each language of instruction |
| Students communicate in the language that is the easiest for them to speak | Students communicate in the language of the teachers (only one language present in the classroom) |
| Follows the Polish curriculum (school skills such as reading & writing are required only from the age of 7) | Follows a mix of UK & US curriculum with stronger academic standards – transition to primary at the age of 6 |
| Mostly Polish students & teachers | Students and teachers from 30 different countries |
| Celebration of local events (often related to one religion) | Celebrates cultures from all over the world |
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About the Multilingual Nursery
When is the right moment to enter an international nursery?
We observe that around the age of one, children develop a strong desire for contact with other children and to explore the world beyond the home environment. This is a perfect time to establish routines and develop emotional skills in the company of peers. The international nursery environment, along with the expertise of qualified teachers and caregivers, sparks students’ natural curiosity and motivation for learning.
In Poland, maternity leave guarantees 12 months with your baby. If you’re seeking a high-quality education and care solution starting from your baby’s 13th month, ITSW International Nursery in Warsaw is the perfect choice.
When is the right time to start at an international nursery?
A good adaptation is a process that allows the parents to gain confidence that they leave their child in good hands. For the child adaptation is a process of gaining independence and entering step by step into a new environment first with and then without the parents presence. Good adaptation is conditioned by creating positive and trustful relationships of the child and the parents with the teachers. Good adaptation requires preparation, time, patience and emotional understanding.
What does neuroscience say about early language acquisition in an international nursery setting?
Neural and behavioral research studies show that exposure to language in the first year of life influences the brain’s neural circuitry even before infants speak their first words. Language acquisition has been shown to impact neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to undergo structural changes in response to stimulus, behavioral experience, or cognitive demands.These neurons are sensitive to the frequency and duration of speech sounds and can differentiate between different speech sounds, such as “ba” and “da.” As infants continue to be exposed to language, their brains develop more sophisticated neural networks for processing speech sounds, words, and sentence structures.
Why choose trilingual? Isn’t a local nursery with just a few hours of English each week sufficient?
We are convinced that English is the lingua franca in today’s world. Nevertheless, reducing language diversity to English kills diversity. As children have a natural ability to absorb and learn languages, we strongly believe that learning in not one, not two but three languages is the best way for international students to build the cognitive, social and emotional capacities to thrive-wherever they go off to seek a brilliant future. All children have their home language, English is a must (lingua franca) and it is really the third language that makes the difference.
Will my child learn languages through watching TV and playing video games in English?
While it is important to surround your child with languages you would like them to acquire, screens will never replace the human interactions children need to learn the language. Watching Peppa Pig in English,a series with nursery rhymes, lullaby songs and BBC Cebeeies on TV can be used as a support but will not teach your child the language.
Help your child gain superpowers – book your spot and unlock trilingualism!