Migration & refugees
Encouraging multilingual parenting programs to support refugee families navigating education systems and child development norms.
Schools and communities can boost resilience and learning by offering multilingual parenting programs that honor refugee family experiences, bridge language gaps, align expectations, and reinforce healthy development through culturally informed guidance and practical supports.
Published by
Jerry Jenkins
July 30, 2025 - 3 min Read
Refugee families often arrive carrying a mix of hopes, concerns, and adaptive strategies formed in displacement circumstances. Navigating new education systems can feel overwhelming when language barriers intersect with unfamiliar norms around schooling, parenting roles, and child development expectations. Multilingual parenting programs address these challenges directly by offering language-accessible resources, peer mentorship, and culturally sensitive guidance. They create spaces where parents learn how schools operate, how teachers assess progress, and how to advocate effectively for their children’s needs. When families gain clarity about procedures and expectations, trust with educators strengthens, and children’s engagement in learning improves.
Effective programs recognize that parenting is deeply rooted in culture and personal history. They provide translation-driven materials, but they also incorporate facilitators who understand the local context and who validate diverse parenting styles. By centering both language acquisition and social-emotional development, these initiatives help parents support literacy, numeracy, and healthy routines at home. Sessions emphasize consistent routines, sleep hygiene, and balanced screens usage, while also inviting families to discuss traditional practices that influence children’s behavior. The goal is not to replace cultural norms but to translate them into actionable strategies compatible with the new educational setting.
Create safe, inclusive spaces where families grow together and share knowledge.
The design of multilingual parenting programs should be anchored in community assets and inclusive collaboration. Local educators, health workers, and refugee representatives co-create curricula that reflect real-life experiences, including concerns about discrimination, safety, and access to services. Practical modules cover navigating enrollment, understanding report cards, and scheduling meetings with teachers, all in accessible languages. Facilitators encourage parents to document questions before school events and to practice simple, effective communication techniques with teachers. By modeling respectful dialogue and listening skills, programs help families feel seen and valued, which in turn strengthens students’ sense of belonging and motivation to learn.
Beyond school gates, these programs weave connections to early childhood development services and mental health supports. They explain developmental milestones in understandable terms and show how to monitor progress without creating fear or stigma. Parents learn to observe signs of stress or withdrawal in children who have endured uncertainty and trauma, and they discover strategies to support emotional regulation at home. Emphasis is placed on joint problem-solving, positive reinforcement, and consistent routines. When caregivers feel empowered to seek help, schools often see improved attendance, better behavior, and a more cooperative relationship with families.
Learn together, adapt, and grow through shared family experiences.
An essential feature of effective programs is flexible delivery. Hybrid options, weekend workshops, and drop-in sessions reduce barriers caused by work schedules or transportation. Childcare during sessions and the inclusion of male and female caregivers help broaden participation. Multilingual facilitators who model respectful communication and cultural humility show that learning can happen in an environment of safety and trust. Materials should be modular and portable, enabling families to revisit concepts at home as needed. When content is revisitable, parents can gradually adopt new strategies, experiment with routines, and return with questions for ongoing guidance.
Evaluation should be ongoing and participatory, not punitive. Programs collect feedback from families to refine content, pacing, and language access. They measure outcomes such as parental confidence in engaging with schools, knowledge of local resources, and children’s academic readiness. Transparent reporting builds accountability among providers and communities. Data collection respects privacy and uses culturally appropriate metrics. By sharing success stories and challenges, programs foster a culture of continuous improvement. Informed adjustments ensure offerings remain relevant to evolving refugee communities and respond to changes in education policy.
Build practical, culturally attuned supports that families can rely on.
Privacy and safety concerns must be central to program design. Families may worry about data sharing or exposure of sensitive information. Clear consent practices, secure information handling, and opt-out options help build trust. Facilitators explain how records are used and who can access them, while reinforcing the right to decline participation in certain activities. In addition, programs should provide guidance on safeguarding children, recognizing signs of exploitation, and connecting families with trustworthy local services. When families feel their privacy is respected, they participate more openly, which strengthens the relevance and impact of the support offered.
Language development activities can be integrated into daily routines, making learning practical rather than burdensome. Parents are encouraged to label household objects in multiple languages, narrate daily tasks in their home language and the community language, and engage in storytelling that reflects cultural heritage. Interactive games, songs, and shared reading promote vocabulary growth and cognitive flexibility. By aligning activities with school expectations and home practices, caregivers help children transfer skills across settings. Regular practice in a low-stakes environment fosters confidence, reduces anxiety about language barriers, and supports positive attitudes toward education.
Sustained collaboration yields lasting gains for families and schools.
One of the strongest benefits of multilingual parenting programs is the sense of community they generate. Refugee families often feel isolated after relocation, which can impede learning and adaptation. Facilitated group sessions allow parents to exchange tips, celebrate small successes, and collectively problem-solve common obstacles. Shared experiences highlight diverse perspectives on child-rearing while reinforcing universal values such as patience, consistency, and encouragement. Community mentors who have successfully navigated similar transitions serve as powerful role models. The reciprocal exchanges strengthen social networks that extend beyond the classroom, offering stability, assistance, and a more welcoming environment for children.
Schools can support these initiatives by allocating dedicated spaces and time for family engagement. Simple steps—such as providing multilingual signage, greeting families in multiple languages, and ensuring translators are available for meetings—make a tangible difference. Educators can receive professional development on inclusive teaching practices and trauma-informed approaches. When teachers and parents collaborate with mutual respect, communication improves, misunderstandings decrease, and learning becomes a shared goal. A sustained partnership between schools and communities signals belonging and can lift outcomes for entire cohorts of students.
Long-term impact requires systemic alignment. Multilingual parenting programs should be part of broader integration policies that recognize language rights, family participation, and equitable access to services. Aligning with health, housing, and employment supports ensures families can stabilize while pursuing education goals. Policymakers, educators, and civil society must coordinate funding, set measurable targets, and share data that protect privacy. When a coordinated framework exists, it’s easier to scale successful models, adapt them to different contexts, and sustain progress across generations. The result is a more inclusive society where every child has a fair opportunity to thrive.
Finally, sustaining momentum hinges on ongoing advocacy and community ownership. Stakeholders must champion multilingual parenting programs as essential infrastructure for child development and educational success. Community-led evaluation, local leadership, and ongoing professional development keep programs relevant and dynamic. By elevating parent voices in decision-making, systems become more responsive to lived experiences. The champions of these initiatives also work to dispel myths about immigration and learning, replacing fear with curiosity and hope. The long view shows that investment in language-rich parenting strengthens families, schools, and the civic fabric they share.
