Time and Place: one of the best bilingual parenting methods you've never heard of?
As a sociolinguist and family language consultant, this is one of my most recommended methods for raising a bilingual child—but here's why you probably won't find it in academic literature.
“Can I really teach my child three languages without losing my mind?”
That’s the question so many parents ask me.
When I started working as a family language consultant—before my daughter was born—I quickly noticed something surprising. Families weren’t just bilingual. They were trilingual, transnational, and juggling multiple languages in ways that didn’t fit neatly into existing research models.
These families, many of whom had one parent who spoke a heritage language (but didn’t know how to read or write it), and others who were each bilingual themselves, were navigating the challenge of transmitting multiple languages in a way that felt natural and sustainable.
What became clear was that these families were facing a unique dilemma:
Cut certain languages out of their Family Language Plan (FLP)
Develop a system where each language gets enough exposure—without losing their sanity
Enter the “Time and Place” method.
What Is the Time and Place Method?
You won’t find the "Time and Place" method labeled as such in academic literature. Instead, researchers discuss domains of use—a concept that refers to carving out specific spaces, times, or settings where certain languages are spoken.
For example, families might designate:
Certain times of day for different languages (e.g., mornings in French, evenings in Spanish).
Specific locations (e.g., the kitchen for Arabic, the living room for English).
Particular days of the week (e.g., Wednesdays are "French Days," Saturdays are "Spanish Days").
This method is flexible yet structured, making it a sustainable approach to multilingual parenting.
How We Use Time and Place in Our Family
Here’s an example of how we apply Time and Place at home:
Mornings: I speak primarily English with my daughter, with a Polish "play break" mid-morning.
Afternoons: My husband speaks Algerian Darija, which I also use when visiting his family.
Reading Time: We have a dedicated reading corner for Arabic and English books.
Public Spaces: She is exposed to French when we’re out and about.
Our routine is adaptable, and we know we’ll make changes as she starts school. If we ever move to an Arabic-speaking country, we might switch things up—perhaps alternating between English and French at home, with set days for each language.
The key? Consistency where possible, flexibility where needed.
Why Hasn’t This Been Widely Studied?
Even though many multilingual families use the Time and Place method, it’s not as well-documented in bilingualism research. Why?
It’s harder to measure – Unlike OPOL (One Parent, One Language) or mL@H (Minority Language at Home), Time and Place is more fluid. Families adjust based on schedules, communication needs, and external factors, making it difficult to track consistently.
Language exposure varies – A child’s exposure to a language might change week to week, depending on family life, social interactions, or school schedules.
It doesn’t fit traditional research models – Many studies focus on how children use languages in specific social settings (e.g., home vs. school) rather than on parenting strategies like Time and Place.
💡 (I talk more about why it’s so hard for parents to find research on bilingual parenting strategies in this video!)
Although it’s not as widely studied, Time and Place works because:
It’s practical – It “follows” your family throughout the day.
It’s adaptable – Parents can adjust based on family needs.
It creates a natural flow – Languages fit into daily routines, making them easier to maintain.
This flexibility makes Time and Place *a little* harder for researchers like myself to study—but it’s exactly what makes it so effective for real families!
What About You?
Have you tried the Time and Place method? How do you balance multiple languages in your family? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear what works for you!
💬 Let’s keep the conversation going! If this post was helpful, share it with a fellow multilingual parent.