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You’re right: every child reacts differently to the languages spoken at home, at school, with friends. I have three childern and all react in a different way. It is challenging and sometimes we have to find compromises, but well, that’s life. I only try to make it as easy as possible and that nobody has the feeling that speaking one language is a “must” in certain situations (well, except when we have guests: then the language that our guest understands is prioritary). Kids can manage many languages. Some like it more, some less. Some have preferences (I wrote a post about this). Acquiring two or more languages simultaneously is usually not a problem, if you have strict rules when to use/talk them. Like the OPOL method (One person one language: i.e. each parent another one, or each person who interacts with the child speaks one language to the child). We didn’t have much luck with the OPOL system because I talk many languages every day and my children realized that they can pick the one they like the most to talk to me… Since we decided that German was our family language (for many reasons; I wrote about this too) and that the other ones are used in specific situations, I can only recommend to start talking other languages at home as soon as possible. And about the language mixing or code-switching, it is only a sign that you have a great degree of proficiency in the language and you can easily switch from one to the other.
I hope that with your work you’ll find a moving-rythm that suits you and your family the best. I did choose not to move often with my kids because I know how important it is for children to have at least one “stable” thing in their lives. They go to a school where children leave and come very often, so that’s not a very stable situation. At least we are with the nucleus of our family 😉 Please keep on writing, I love to hear about your thoughts and experiences! Groetjes uit Den Haag en hopelijk tot gauw! xxx

Bedankt Ute en Mei! Making it fun to learn Dutch or have Dutch moments is indeed a good suggestion! or with Sinterklaas liedjes! My parents didnt go about teaching Dutch in a good manner so it is good to (obviously!) consider making it fun and a positive experience in my own family! ….I did want to share though, why this was something I was wondering about….As I am fluent in 3 languages, I find that truly mastering one language as a “real” native can be challenging, I have either some mistakes, a smaller vocab, or stumble slightly when talking in public from being lazy to translate from switching languages often, (its no big drama, maybe Im just a perfectionist or try to hard to sound native, ha!) and so I wondered if it was maybe better that my daughters learn one language well, and then learn the other as a 2nd language. My brother and his wife (Dutch SouthAfrican) have done this with their girls, but then again they both speak Dutch, live in Rotterdam and dont move around like me. Personally I think kids can manage many languages, I think its helpful to have one language per person or context, and also be consistent. So one language per parent or in school one language and at home another etc. Of course, every person, every sibling responds differently to being a TCK or learning languages, I have one brother who hardly speaks Spanish and the other hardly speaks Dutch.
As for moving about….it is a good suggestiont to try to move less often than 2-3 years in as far I am able to decide that with my work, and thanks for pointing out that there is literature out there to help kids with moving….recently, I am wondering whether, when and how to move back to Europe or the US, and then stay put for a while, or if Im “doomed” to stay in Lima. How would it be moving back to a place I choose to leave? but now as a mother of 2! Spannend en beetje eng! 😉 Thanks again for this great space to write and share! Super bueno, gracias!

Thank you so much for your comment, Mei! I totally agree with all you say – were we separated at birth? 😉
I would love to get to know more about your daughter with dyslexia, how she did cope with all the languages – and different school systems, I guess?
I am very interested in studies about children with dyslexia (I know, there are different sorts of dyslexia) or who need speech therapy who grow up multilingual. – I recently did introduce French at dinner table with my kids and they love it! It’s only twice a week, but I so love to hear them attempt the nasal sounds and repeat everything I say (and I’m very happy that all my French books will have more readers!). – Ik ben erg blij dat ik je heb gevonden (of dat je mij hebt gevonden)! Tot straks, ou à la prochaine. xxx Ute