Pick a language?

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We speak spanish and english in my home. I was told that I should "pick a language" to speak to my 3 year old son that has Autism. We usually speak english to him some spanish words here and there, any thoughts on this?

Oh no, definately do not give up the two languages!

I can't dig up the info tonight, but it is being proven over and over again, that being bilingual usually strengthens an individuals ability to learn any language!

Meaning, a child learning two, will learn their first language better then if they just studied the ONE language.

Even with your sons speech problems, I would not recommend dropping a language at this point!

My daughter was a late talker. We put her into a French Daycare, having barely learned any french prior to it! She came out two months later, still speaking almost no french, but bursting in English! I think it helped her.

I'll try and dig up more tommorow, but the only thing I might recommend differently, is make sure you are not "mixing" the two languages, and perhaps try as best you can, to "pick a time or place" to use one language or the other. That way, he knows walking in the room or up to you, what language is most likely going to be spoken! For example, "Mom is in the Kitchen cooking... This is Spanish time". Or, "We are shopping, we are talking in English".

Okay, I don't know where professionals are getting this but I keep hearing parents getting blamed for being bilingual!! !
Pet peeve of mine as I studied Spanish, studies show time after time that kids' brains are postively affected by learning more than one language-ESPECIALLY around 2!! !

But for some reason it keeps coming up that parents are actually being blamed for their kids' speech delays in bilingual households. That is just false.
What's always important with autistic kids is to increase visual aides when communicating. Pictures, charades, hand gestures, sign language. Using those alongside verbal language will speed up the comprehension.

I learned both English and French as a kid. I think it was very good for me. I don't know why you would want to limit yourself to one. Maybe if it's confusing him...

Thanks you for your reply. I have to agree with all of you since I only spoke spanish until about 4 and went to American schools and learned english my dad is American and only speaks english. I was just confused with the whole Autism thing, I speak spanish to my other children but was not sure what to do with my son with Autism, but you guys have now confirmed what I always thought I should be doing. Thanks!

Don't underestimate any of the young minds you are dealing with. Feed them and they will grow. The problem with professionals is that they are so steeped in their fields that their minds are closed to new thoughts. Believe me as your children grow you will learn things from them you no longer even think about. Enjoy the adventure.

Corsarzs, I think you are correct. I always read and hear about people saying that there child is in "another world" and I don't find that to be true, at least in my case. I know my son is VERY AWARE of EVERYTHING that is going on he just has a hard time communicating with us. I often tell people that for us it's like a person that is in a coma(that wakes up years later) and could hear everything around him wants to talk, is thinking it just can't be said in words(at least for now ) IMO. Thanks for your post.

My first language was German. I learned English in first grade, and Spanish in high school.

I don't think that we should go around limiting what we think our kids can do - aspie or otherwise. If you speak two languages in the home, I applaud it - and I think your child will thrive. So they have aspergers - so what? I'm not saying to ignore all of their discomfort and anxiety, but I am saying that they still take many of their cues from us as their parents. While I'm very aware of what does or does not work for Gavin, we can't possibly shield them from everything in life, and I think it's our JOB to expose them to as much as possible. I think having a bilingual household is a blessing - and your son will let you know if it's too much or too little. We just have to pay attention.