Expert talk with Speech Pathologist Divyana Poudel on raising connected little ones

Finding my way back to connection: A Bilingual mama’s story

Growing up in Nepal’s rich and diverse cultural landscape, I lived in a multilingual household where my mother spoke our heritage language, Gurung bhasa. As our family (like many others) moved to the city, that language slowly faded into Nepali, and soon, the English-speaking culture of “boarding school” took over. Like many of my generation, I was expected to speak English at school, Nepali at home, and gradually, my mother’s first language disappeared from our everyday life.

During visits to our village, I was always mesmerised by the rhythmic, warm flow of Gurung bhasa. My mother would come alive as neighbours, young and old, spoke to her in her native tongue. I often wished I could join in, but my few attempts ended in laughter, which left me feeling embarrassed and disconnected. Over time, I quietly gave up trying. In the city, fluency in English or Nepali became a symbol of progress, while my ancestral language like Gurung was seen as something left behind.

However, that silent gap, the absence of a shared language became a quiet distance between my mother and me time and again as I was growing up. She was loving, gentle, and endlessly caring, but we didn’t always understand each other deeply. We lacked the words to express emotions beyond the basics. Looking back, I realise how much of our bond could have been strengthened through shared language and emotional expression.

Today, as an adult, I understand her better. I see the resilience of her journey, moving to a new environment, learning a new language, adapting to city life, all while raising a family. But I also recognise how profoundly language shapes connection. It’s not just a means of communication; it’s the bridge that helps us express who we are, how we feel, and how we relate to one another. With a shared language, connection comes more naturally; without it, we must work harder to bridge what words could have easily held.

When I think back to my childhood, there were toys, yes, but books were rare. Reading for pleasure simply wasn’t part of our everyday life or culture; books were mostly tied to school, not curiosity. If a baby had toys and rattles, that was enough. But we now know better. Research shows that early reading, singing, and storytelling foster language learning, creativity, and stronger emotional bonds between parents and children (Shaw et al., 2021).

Books nurture curiosity, focus, and imagination in ways that screens and toys alone cannot.

My love for reading came much later in life, through intentional searching for things that sparked curiosity. Becoming a mother during COVID cocooned me with my newborn and gave me the space to explore mindful parenting. I learned that simple, consistent acts like reading, singing, and talking to my baby could profoundly shape her development.

Today, my four-year-old is a budding book lover, a clear and confident speaker for their age, and an eager learner. When people ask what I did differently, my answer is simple: I connected through books, mindful tools, and intentional parenting from day one.

And that’s where our conversation with Sydney-based Consultant and Practising Speech Pathologist, Divyana Poudel, becomes so powerful. Her insights affirm what I’ve experienced firsthand, that bilingual parenting, paired with intentional, positive communication, builds the foundation for deep connection and confident communication.

Here’s our chat.

Guiding Parents Through Bilingual Beginnings: Expert Insights from a Speech Pathologist

1. What inspired you to specialise in speech pathology and particularly in working with bilingual families?

I was initially drawn to speech pathology because I’ve always been fascinated by communication and how it shapes our relationships, learning, and sense of identity. Growing up bilingual myself, I became very aware of how language can both connect and challenge people, especially children who are learning to navigate between two languages at home and school. Over time, I noticed a growing need for bilingual speech pathologists, particularly those who speak Nepali.

Many Nepali-speaking families in Australia find that their children communicate well in Nepali but experience delays in English language and speech development. This can affect not only their academic progress but also their confidence and ability to engage socially with peers. For example, I’ve worked with children who can express themselves clearly at home in Nepali but struggle to participate in classroom discussions or make friends because they’re still developing English vocabulary and sentence structure. In some cases, this can be mistaken for a language disorder when it’s actually a language difference. Being able to assess and support these children in both languages allows me to provide more accurate intervention and help families feel understood and empowered.

That’s what continues to motivate me, ensuring that bilingual children, especially those from underrepresented language backgrounds like Nepali, receive culturally and linguistically appropriate support to thrive in both of their languages.

2. What are some of the biggest myths or misconceptions you hear from parents raising bilingual children?

One of the most common misconceptions I hear from parents is that speaking two languages such as English and Nepali, will confuse their child or delay their speech and language development. Many families worry that using two languages at home might make it harder for their child to learn English, especially once they start school. That is the reason so many Nepali children can only speak in English and find it hard or impossible to communicate in Nepali. The minority few who can communicate in Nepali often then present with speech and language delays due to under stimulation. It is often hard to find a balance between the two. 

However, research consistently shows that bilingualism does not cause confusion or delay.

In fact, children are naturally capable of learning two or more languages at the same time. Studies have found that bilingual children might mix languages occasionally (known as “code-switching”), but this is a normal part of bilingual language development, not a sign of confusion.

For example, research by Paradis, Genesee, & Crago (2011) and Kohnert (2013) highlights that bilingual children can reach the same developmental milestones as monolingual children when both languages are supported consistently. The key is to provide rich language input in both languages through meaningful interactions such as talking, reading, and playing in both Nepali and English.

Encouraging families to continue using their home language, like Nepali, actually strengthens children’s overall language skills, cultural identity, and connection with their community while supporting English learning as well.

I am a consultant Speech Pathologist aside from a practicing one. Meaning that I coach / provide private consultations to parents and on how to support the two in balance from even prior to birth till 17 years of age. Please reach out directly if interested. 

3. How early should language and literacy exposure begin, even before speech develops?

Language and literacy exposure should begin as early as possible, even before birth. Research shows that babies start hearing and recognising familiar voices and speech patterns while still in the womb. From around 25–28 weeks of pregnancy, a baby can hear the rhythm and melody of their parents’ voices, especially the mother’s.

Talking, singing, and reading to your baby during pregnancy helps lay the foundation for early listening and bonding. Right after birth, communication continues to develop long before a child says their first words. Babies communicate through eye contact, facial expressions, cooing, crying, and gestures and parents play a vital role in responding to these early signals. These back-and-forth interactions are the building blocks of language.

4. What are some simple, everyday ways parents can nurture language and connection in a bilingual home?
Some helpful strategies to support communication before and after speech develops include:

• Talking to your baby throughout the day: Describe what you’re doing, name objects, and use a warm, engaging tone.
• Singing and using nursery rhymes: Rhythm and repetition help babies tune in to the sounds and patterns of language.
• Reading together early and often: Even with newborns, looking at books, naming pictures, and sharing stories builds early literacy skills and positive associations with reading.
• Responding to all attempts to communicate: Smiling, copying sounds, and taking turns “talking” with your baby encourages communication and teaches the power of interaction.
• Using both languages if bilingual: Speaking to your baby in Nepali and English from the beginning helps build a strong foundation in both languages.
  
  Early language and literacy experiences, even before speech begins, nurture not only communication skills, but also social, emotional, and cognitive development. The earlier we start engaging with children through meaningful communication, the stronger their language and literacy outcomes will be.

As we wrapped up our chat, I couldn’t help but reflect on how aligned Divyana’s insights were with my own journey.

In the end, it’s not about how many languages they speak, but how deeply they feel seen and understood. Intentional, bilingual parenting is simply love made conscious, spoken through everyday rituals, shared stories, and small acts of connection that last a lifetime.

Keep talking. Keep reading. Keep growing together. 💛

Happy Connecting!

Sarika,
Founder, Kirmiray Studios

 

Meet the Expert Behind Today’s Insights

Divyana (Div) Poudel, Certified Trauma-informed-Speech-Language Pathologist

Full bio & contact below

Divyana Poudel (Div) is a certified, trauma-informed Speech-Language Pathologist with extensive experience supporting children and adolescents impacted by relational trauma, developmental delays, and disability. She is passionate about helping every child find their voice and reach their fullest communication potential in a positive, engaging, and nurturing environment.

Div has worked across a range of settings—including schools, community health, and rehabilitation clinics—delivering comprehensive speech and language assessments, therapy, and parent coaching. Her clinical expertise spans speech sound disorders, language delays, literacy, fluency, social communication, and neurodiverse conditions such as Autism and ADHD.

Fluent in English and Nepali, Div offers bilingual assessment and therapy, supporting children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Her practice is rooted in evidence-based approaches and a trauma-informed framework, ensuring that therapy is holistic, functional, and tailored to each child’s individual strengths and needs.

In addition to direct therapy, Div works as a consultant to NSW childcare centres and directly with parents, providing coaching and practical strategies to enhance communication, support language development, and build confident, connected relationships between children and caregivers.

Div accepts both NDIS and non-NDIS referrals.

Director of Blue Emu Therapy Services Principal Speech Pathologist and Consultant Email: div@bluemutherapy.com Phone: 0434 383 701 Preferred mode of contact: Email and then phone call for discussion if needed

References

Kohnert, K. (2013). Language disorders in bilingual children and adults. Plural Publishing. 

Paradis, J., Genesee, F., & Crago, M. (2011). Dual language development & disorders: A handbook on bilingualism and second language learning (2nd ed.). Brookes.

Shaw, A., Dahlke, R., Hickling, S., & Smith, L. (2021). Read, speak, sing: Promoting early literacy in the health care setting. Paediatrics & Child Health, 26(3), 182–196. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxab005