Bilingual Language Struggles: Why Your Child Understands but Won't Speak with Mimi

If your child is a "passive bilingual"—understanding your home language but refusing to speak it—you aren't failing. In this episode of Dam Parenting, Eva welcomes back Mimi to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the psychology of language choice. Moving beyond the "just add more exposure" trope, we dive into the research of Susanne Döpke and Piaget to explain why child-centered interaction is the real key to unlocking speech.We explore how your child’s natural egocentrism means they only speak the language that feels emotionally engaging and relevant to their world. We discuss why "connection before correction" is vital for building the confidence to speak, and how to create low-pressure environments where the home language feels like a gift rather than a requirement. If you’re tired of the language tug-of-war, tune in to learn how to turn passive listening into active, meaningful conversation through the power of emotional attunement.