ABSTRACT
This chapter is quite practical in its approach and offers concrete answers to questions and problems that parents often experience. The emphasis here is on ways to help parents ensure that their child has enough input in each language that they are acquiring and enough opportunity and need to actually use that language in interaction with others. In terms of input, the chapter encourages parents to talk a lot with their children, from an early age, and to read to and with them, particularly in the minority language, since this will not usually be as well supported in formal education as the majority language. In terms of opportunities for interaction, the need for networking and meeting speakers outside of the family is discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of various ways children can be introduced to and become competent in a minority culture, to make it possible for them at some point to feel comfortable and behave appropriately in the environment in which their parent(s) grew up. This includes religious practices, which can be a sensitive part of the lives of many migrant families.
