Raising kids in a world dominated by English can make passing down Tagalog feel overwhelming. As parents, you watch your kids grow up so smart, quick-witted, and capable. But then you realize they might not connect with the language you grew up speaking, and it stirs up a mix of pride and sadness. You want them to feel at home in Tagalog, to understand the warmth and humor that only make sense in your language, but it feels so far away.

Many Filipino parents go through the same struggle. You try to introduce Tagalog here and there, but it’s met with “Mom, I don’t understand,” or they slip right back into English. It’s hard to see them missing out on stories, values, and pieces of family history that only truly come alive in Tagalog. You might even wonder if it’s too late, if that connection to heritage is slipping through your fingers.

In fact, research shows that preserving a family’s heritage language plays a huge role in a child’s sense of cultural identity, family bonds, and cognitive flexibility (Lanza & Svendsen, 2007). When children speak their family’s language, they feel more connected to their relatives and heritage – they don’t just know where they come from; they feel it. But in the busy world of school, friends, and media in English, it’s easy for Tagalog to take a back seat. Studies even suggest that without active effort, heritage languages like Tagalog can be forgotten within just a couple of generations (Fillmore, 2000).

But here’s the thing: it’s not too late. Language is something that can be nurtured at any age, and kids are more adaptable than we often think. It doesn’t have to be an uphill battle; with a little help, it can become a natural and enjoyable part of their lives. Research by linguists shows that even as kids grow older, their brains are still highly receptive to language learning, especially when it’s done in a way that feels natural and connected to their everyday lives (Hakuta, 2001).