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In:60 Years of Applied Linguistics: Toward more engaged research
Edited by Grégory Miras, Isabel Colón de Carvajal, Nathalie Blanc and Shona Whyte
[AILA Applied Linguistics Series 22] 2026
► pp. 31–42

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Chapter 2
The importance of research-based outreach activities for supporting bilingual families

ORCiD logo with link | Harmonious Bilingualism Network (HaBilNet)
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

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Published online: 9 March 2026
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https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.22.02deh
Abstract
Despite wide-ranging research on bilingual children, many myths about early child bilingualism prevail. These myths can be harmful to bilingual children and their families. They may threaten children’s and families’ Harmonious Bilingualism, viz., their language-related well-being. To counter this, applied linguists should make a concerted effort to communicate solid research results to a wide range of people impacting children’s development, such as parents, pediatricians, early childhood counselors, and teachers. Knowing about the science will empower parents and form a basis for professionals to adjust their beliefs and ensuing actions. There are currently several research-based easily accessible resources available but applied linguists must do more so bilingual children and their families can experience Harmonious Bilingualism.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • 1.Ideas about early child bilingualism in academia
  • 2.Research on child bilingualism
  • 3.Ideas about early bilingual development outside of academia and their effects
  • 4.Applied Linguistics: An unending uphill battle against prejudice and misinformation
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (30)
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