“How we’re raising a bilingual child in Switzerland: what’s working (and what’s not)”

A couple of months ago, I celebrated 10 years of living in Switzerland — a country that’s given me so many opportunities, new experiences, and a sense of peace. But perhaps the most life-changing part is that this is where I started a family.

Let me back up a little.

I first came to Switzerland to work as an educator and primary school teacher. I started in a bilingual childcare center, where I met international families raising children in a language they often didn’t speak themselves. Later, I worked in an international school, then as a German-speaking kindergarten teacher, and eventually I found myself in the public school system, teaching German to kids from multilingual backgrounds — children born here, but who speak another language at home.

All those conversations with parents, and seeing firsthand the challenges multilingual kids face, gave me a lot of insight. So when my daughter was born, I already had some ideas about what I wanted to try.

Well… here we are! My little monkey is now 18 months old. And even though she’s still tiny, there are a few things we’ve already started doing to help her grow up confident in both her languages.

We speak Greek at home — both my husband and I — and most of our friends are also Greek. So that raises a big question:

Where and how will our daughter hear the local language (German)?

Here’s what we’ve tried so far — what’s working (and what’s still in progress!):

1. Swimming Classes

This was my daughter’s first real exposure to German — or more accurately, the local dialect — and to water! She loves splashing around while the teacher sings songs and gives little instructions. She watches the other kids closely, and as she grows, she interacts more and more — waving “Ciao,” copying hand motions, following the rhythm of the songs. It’s beautiful to watch.

2. Familienzentrum

A fellow mum at the playground recently told me about our local Familienzentrum — and honestly, what a gem! It's a cozy meeting point where families can spend time together, and little ones can play, explore, and interact with other children (and lovely caregivers). Parents are welcome to stay in the playroom or relax with a coffee in the café next door — yes, really!

They often offer activities like arts and crafts, singing, dancing, and even workshops or support sessions for parents. I haven’t taken full advantage of it yet, but it’s definitely on my list for the coming months. It’s one of those places that makes parenting in Switzerland feel just a little bit lighter.

3. Playgrounds

Honestly, going to the playground was a bit of a shock at first. I had to navigate toddler social situations — sharing toys in the sandpit, taking turns on the slide, asking somebody to give us our ball back — all in a language that neither my daughter nor I speak natively.

These small moments require communication, sometimes even conflict resolution. And yes, there are big feelingsinvolved. That’s when I realized: short sentences, active listening, and patience are key at this age – especially when reasoning doesnt work well. My advice? Get out there anyway. Even if it feels awkward at first. Try making friends with local mums or dads — your child will naturally hear the language through those interactions.

4. Songs on YouTube

Let’s face it — children love music. Songs, rhymes, melodies — they’re all powerful tools. I first noticed this back when I worked in childcare: kids who didn’t even speak yet were already responding to gestures and moving along with the lyrics.

Even if you don’t speak the local language well yourself, listening to songs helps both you and your child. Pick a few favorites, play them on repeat, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly vocabulary and pronunciation start to stick.

5. Books / Tiptoi

Being a teacher in Switzerland taught me the power of books. I’ve always loved them — the stories, the illustrations, even the smell of a new book! So before I even became a mum, I had already started building a little library of German children’s books.

We speak Greek at home. We think it is important that our daughter stays in touch with her roots and can speak with her grandparents in Greece. But… what about all those lovely German books?

Here’s what we do: German storytime.

I read the books in German while showing her the pictures. She listens closely — and sometimes laughs when she hears me speaking “that other language.” Trust me, they notice! They’re soaking it all in.

We also plan to introduce Tiptoi books soon — they’re interactive books that come with a special talking pen. When you touch the pictures, you hear German audio: words, songs, facts, or even whole stories. I haven’t tried them with her just yet, but it’s definitely on our list.

What’s not (yet) working for us

As much as I try to include German in our daily life, there are still some gaps. For now, we’re avoiding screens, so no German cartoons or apps — even though I know that could help with exposure. We haven’t started childcare yet either, which means less structured time in a German-speaking environment. And truthfully, we don’t have many Swiss friends with young kids at the moment, which limits natural interaction in the local language.

But that’s okay. I remind myself that this is a journey, not a race — and that consistent little steps still count. Children are little sponges. They will pick up the language, eventually. Our goal as parents isn’t to force perfection, but to offer meaningful, everyday opportunities to hear and use the language. The most important thing is to help them feel confident enough to speak — even if they make mistakes.

The grammar and syntax? That will come in time.