Brain Development & Learning a Second Language: The Bilingual Advantage

The Bilingual Advantage by Claudia Dreifus in the NYTimes online discusses the overall cognitive benefits to children of learning and speaking a second language.

The brain system development in children who speak a second language is improved, along with a significant boost in the children's executive function which benefits things as diverse as decision-making and driving.

And, thinking far ahead for your child's future, bilingual adults with Alzheimer's have been shown to function for five to six years longer than their monolingual peers, despite having the same level of Alzheimer's!