Try repeating that title ten times fast 
Here’s an interesting study I heard about from NPR’s Morning Edition. Recent studies have suggested that speaking more than one language can provide a significant boost to mental acquity. While many agree that multiple languages spoken in the home can be of great benefit in communication development, a smaller minority has expressed concern that children may become confused as to which language to properly employ in whichever situation it is warranted. Additionally, immigrant and early generation families may feel pressure from outsiders to encourage the use of the popularly accepted and official language of their surroundings. Then again, there are other cultures that emphasize the ‘assimilation’ aspect and actively encourage their children to become ‘Americanized’.
Researchers are united in dispelling these myths, however, and state emphatically that there is no evidence of being bilingual leading to confusion or any sort of language delay. Communication is actually typically quite advanced in these individuals. Now, new evidence has come to light that suggests children actually receive a massive boost in their development because even when conversing in one language, the child’s brain is still processing and activating as if it were speaking the other language. In other words, the brain has to learn at an early age to differentiate between thoughts and compartmentalize the languages. This leads to a more advanced language structure and communication skills down the road.
Most Speech Language Pathologists agree that children learning languages at home and in school are able to distinguish between the two (or more) tongues with a generally low level of difficulty. Even in those instances where there is some confusion, it’s widely believed that the benefits far outweigh any potential miscommunications that occur at such a young age.
To learn more about this fascinating study, take a look at the story on NPR’s Morning Edition website or go to Dr. Ellen Bialystok’s website at York University.