Speaking every family’s language: how translation builds belonging

‍

It’s 3:30 PM. Time for pick up at preschool. Gabriela wants to ask her daughter’s teacher about a speech delay she’s noticed, but she pauses. Her English isn’t perfect, and she’s worried her question won’t come out right. Teacher Sarah sees Gabriela hesitate, but she doesn’t speak Spanish. So, she smiles, hoping everything is okay.

Scenes like this play out in childcare programs every day. And when they do, something is lost: a chance for the important adults in a child’s life to connect, and a chance for that child to get the support they need.

At Famly, we believe that children thrive when their whole village - parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers - works together as a team. But that only happens if every voice in that village is heard, understood, and valued.

The impact of language barriers

Here’s the reality: According to recent data from the Migration Policy Institute, 32% of all children under age 9 in the United States come from bilingual households. That's nearly 11 million children (!) whose families might speak Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Somali, or any of dozens of other languages at home.

And just like every parent, those families want to be part of their child’s learning journey. They want to understand the small details of the day, from what their child ate, to who they played with, and what they learned. 

Not only do they want to be engaged with their child’s development, but they also want to feel included in their program’s community. They want to be able to interact with other parents, schedule playdates for their child outside the classroom, and simply, feel a sense of belonging.

But language barriers can create invisible walls that block families, teachers and children from the magic that happens when home and school truly work together.

More than words, building real inclusion

Inclusion isn’t just about translating words. It’s about creating belonging. When we built Famly’s Live Translation feature, we didn’t stop at “English-to-Spanish.” We designed it to break down walls in over 130 languages, so no one is left out of the conversation and every one can feel a part of their community.

And the ripple effect is powerful:

• For children: They feel secure, knowing their parents and teachers are on the same page. Plus, the partnership between parents and teachers will just enhance that child’s holistic development in invaluable ways.
  
• For families: Parents can ask questions, share stories, ask questions, share concerns, and actively participate, without worrying if they’ll be understood.
  
• For educators: Teachers get to build genuine relationships, learn about cultural practices, and create better, personalized support for every child.
  

That’s what real inclusion looks like.

Belonging happens in the small moments

True inclusion isn’t about one big gesture. It’s about the small moments that make up everyday. A toddler sharing their artwork and the teacher being able to share that with the parents, a teacher explaining nap time routines so a new family feels confident leaving their child on their first day, a caregiver asking how to pronounce a child’s name correctly, and so on. 

As Mat Stephens, Deputy Manager at Acorns Pre-school puts it: “Being able to translate it into different languages means you can make sure that every multilingual child is able to have that voice. That parent has a voice."

And that’s what it’s really about. Every parent, every grandparent, every caregiver having a voice in their child’s early learning experience.

Diversity shouldn’t jeopardize connection

Raising children has always been a community effort. But today, that community is more diverse than ever. Different cultures, different languages, different ways of showing care, and all part of the same village.

Technology shouldn’t replace those human connections. It should protect them, by removing the barriers that create misunderstandings, or complete road blocks.

So when Gabriela sends her daughter’s teacher a message in Spanish, and the teacher instantly sees it in English, that barrier disappears. And when the teacher replies back, in warmth and care, in Spanish? That’s when something beautiful happens: two adults who care about the same child finally working together as a team.

With Famly’s technology tools, this invaluable communication is possible. 

Technology that brings people together

We know what the research says: parent-teacher collaboration is one of the most influential factors in a child’s long-term success. But collaboration only works if people can actually communicate, and communication requires understanding.

That’s why Famly’s tools are built to make connection easier. In addition to removing language barriers in real time with Live Translation, Famly offers:

• Sidekick Writing Assistant: To help educators communicate clearly and professionally, too. For busy teachers or those with learning disabilities, this makes all the difference in ensuring your message gets across without having to remove your focus from the classroom for very long.
• Flexible communication tools: Our platform recognizes that "family" looks different for everyone. Some children have divorced parents who need sensitive permissions and billing structures. Others are raised by grandparents. Still others have multiple caregivers who all need to stay informed. Famly's flexible communication tools meet families where they are and don't force them into a one specific way of communicating. Simply, every family looks different, and every family deserves to feel like they belong.

Ready to see how Famly can help every family in your care feel included? Start your free 14-day trial today.