Raising Bilingual Children in the UK: Balancing English and Urdu

Parents who are raising bilingual children in the UK often ask the same question: how do we help our child keep Urdu without holding back their English? The reassuring truth is that these goals usually fit together. In the UK, children are surrounded by English at school, in shops and online, so the main challenge is giving Urdu enough space, not protecting English. This guide offers realistic strategies, drawn from common family practice, for balancing the two.

Raising bilingual children in the UK: start with realistic expectations

Bilingual children usually use each language for different purposes and with different people. A child may talk about school in English and about family meals in Urdu, with more vocabulary in one than the other. This is normal. You can expect your child’s two languages to change over time depending on who they spend time with and what they need to do. It is more helpful to ask “Can my child communicate with the people who matter?” than “Is my child perfectly balanced?”

Common approaches at home

Families use several strategies. You can adapt or combine them.

There is no single best method for raising bilingual children in the UK. What matters is that your child hears plenty of Urdu in real conversations and that the approach is realistic enough for you to keep it up.

What about school?

English-medium schools help children develop strong English, and many bilingual children do well. A few practical points:

• Tell the school which languages your child speaks. Teachers often welcome it and may find ways to celebrate it.
• Support learning in English, for example by reading together in English as well as Urdu.
• Keep reading in English too. Many families worry that a home language will hold back English reading, but find that skills learnt in one language help the other, though every child is different.
• If your child needs extra help, such as with speech or reading, talk to the school’s special educational needs coordinator or your health visitor. Support should be based on the child’s needs, not on being bilingual.

Screens and media

Children in the UK usually hear and see a great deal of English media. You can balance this by:

• Choosing some Urdu shows, songs, audiobooks or stories and watching or listening together.
• Using screens as a starting point for conversation: “What happened in that story?”
• Keeping other activities, such as games, outings and books, in the mix.

The aim is not to ban English media but to ensure Urdu has a place.

Reading and writing in two languages

Literacy takes longer in a home language, because children get so much practice in English at school. Plan for gradual steps:

1. Build speaking and listening first.
2. Introduce Urdu letters and simple words once your child feels confident.
3. Read short Urdu texts together regularly.
4. Use a class or tutor if you want a structured path.

See our guide to teaching children to read and write Urdu.

Language mixing is normal

Many bilingual children, and adults, mix languages in the same sentence. This is a normal feature of bilingual speech, not a sign of confusion. If your child says “Mujhe juice chahiye”, they are making a perfectly sensible choice. You can gently model the Urdu for the English word without correcting them harshly.

Make Urdu necessary and enjoyable

Children use the language that gets results. Create real reasons to use Urdu:

• Family meals and calls with grandparents.
• Games and songs that use Urdu.
• Responsibilities such as ordering at a family restaurant or helping a relative.
• Friends who speak or learn Urdu.

For ideas, read fun Urdu learning activities for children at home and helping children speak Urdu with their grandparents.

If Urdu is not your only home language

Many British-Pakistani families speak Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki or other languages at home, with Urdu as an additional language. Children in these families may be growing up with three or more languages. That is a strength. Decide which languages matter most to you and your family, and give each a place. You do not have to do everything. For more on the wider picture, see why family languages matter across generations.

Build a simple plan for raising bilingual children in the UK

1. Choose your approach from the table above.
2. Pick two or three daily Urdu moments, such as greetings, mealtimes or bedtime. See introducing Urdu into your child’s daily routine.
3. Add a weekly anchor, such as a call to grandparents or a class.
4. Review every few months. What is working? What needs to change?
5. Celebrate progress. Note new words, longer sentences and moments of pride.

Where to find expert advice

UCL BiLingo is a UK-based education and information service offering research-based advice on childhood bilingualism and multilingualism. It provides information for parents, as well as for teachers. If you have concerns about your child’s speech or language development, speak to your health visitor, GP or school.

Frequently asked questions

Will speaking Urdu at home delay my child’s English?

Raising bilingual children in the UK usually means English is all around, and most children develop it strongly through school and daily life. If you are worried, speak to your child’s teacher or health visitor.

My child answers in English every time. What now?

That is common. Keep speaking Urdu to them, make Urdu relevant and avoid pressure. Read helping British-born children learn Urdu.

Do we need a class?

Not necessarily, but many families raising bilingual children in the UK find that a class adds structure and peers. See Urdu classes or home learning.

Related reading

• Benefits of learning Urdu for British-Pakistani children
• How to teach your child Urdu at home
• Helping your child stay connected to Pakistani culture

Sources

• UCL BiLingo