Starting Dutch School Without the Words for Feelings, with Mimi

Starting school in a foreign language is a significant cognitive challenge, but it’s the emotional challenge that often weighs heaviest on our children. In this episode of Dam Parenting, Eva is joined by Mimi from ⁠Growing Up Multilingual⁠ to take a warm, honest, and direct look at why emotional language is a superpower for kids entering the Dutch school system. We debunk the myth that children "just pick up" the words for their feelings and explore what they actually experience emotionally in a classroom where they don't yet speak the dominant tongue.Mimi explains why building a strong emotional vocabulary in your home language is actually the best way to support their confidence at school. We share practical strategies for teaching "needs-based" words and discuss how parents and teachers can collaborate to build a sense of safety. Whether your child is about to start their journey or is already navigating life between languages, this episode offers the tools to ensure they feel heard, even when they’re still finding their voice.