What Does Speech Therapy Look Like for a Bilingual Child? A 50/50 Approach with English and Spanish

At our clinic, we believe every child’s language is a strength—not a barrier. That’s especially true for bilingual children who speak both English and Spanish. When a bilingual child comes in for speech and language therapy, families often ask: “Will therapy be in both languages?” or “Will using two languages confuse my child?”

The short answer: No, bilingualism does not cause language delays, and yes—we do work in both languages. In fact, we use bilingualism to our advantage.

Here’s what therapy looks like for a child growing up with English and Spanish in equal measure.

A Balanced 50/50 Approach: English and Spanish

In therapy, we aim to support both languages equally—especially if the child uses each language for different needs at home, school, and in daily life. That means:

• We build vocabulary, grammar, and communication strategies in both languages.
• We choose goals based on overall language development, not just English or Spanish.
• We often alternate sessions in each language or include both within a single session, depending on the child’s needs and comfort level.

This approach supports academic growth and strong family connections, since many Spanish-English bilingual children speak Spanish at home and English at school.

Positive Transfer: Letting One Language Support the Other

One of the most exciting benefits of bilingual therapy is something called positive transfer. This occurs when skills learned in one language help the child grow in the other.

For example:

• If a child learns how to make longer sentences in Spanish, that same structure often shows up in their English.
• If a child practices using descriptive words in English (“big,” “small,” “colorful”), they may start using more precise vocabulary in Spanish, too.

By recognizing these overlaps, we can “leverage the bridge” between languages. Instead of starting from scratch in each language, we build on what the child already knows.

Real-Life Therapy in Action

Bilingual sessions often include:

• Language-rich play that uses both languages naturally
• Visual supports that label vocabulary in English and Spanish
• Family education so parents can reinforce their child’s learnt skills at home

Supporting the Whole Child—and the Whole Family

We always work closely with parents and caregivers to understand how each child uses language in their daily life. Therapy goals are personalized to match the child’s strengths, challenges, and cultural background.

Our goal is to help bilingual children thrive by supporting both languages with intention and respect.

If your child speaks both English and Spanish and needs support with speech or language skills, we’re here to help. Bilingual therapy can be a powerful tool—and we’d love to partner with you on that journey.

‍