For an increasing number of parents, the notion of raising bilingual children is an appealing one. But how is it done? Children begin learning a language — any language, be it their first or second — simply by having it spoken to them. Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that.

Though it may seem daunting at first, parents hoping to teach their children a second language shouldn’t be intimidated: Raising bilingual children is actually easier than one might think. Read on for five steps to success if you’re raising bilingual children.

1) Decide Who Will Speak What Language

For parents interested in raising bilingual children, it’s important to find a balance when deciding how much exposure the child should have to two different languages.

If one parent speaks Spanish, for example, and the other is a native English-speaker, it may be best to have one parent always speak Spanish to the child and the other always speak English. This ensures that the child is exposed to both languages equally.

2) Include the Language in Daily Life

The key to raising bilingual children is to incorporate the second language into everyday life. By exposing your child to a second language every day, you will ensure that they learn much more than they would in a language class that meets only twice a week for a couple of hours.

From speaking the language in front of your child to reading aloud in the second language, incorporating a second language into everyday routines can be a simple task.

3) Set Aside the Time

Ideally, a second language will naturally become part of the daily household routine for parents raising bilingual children. To ensure that both languages are being spoken on a regular basis, it may be necessary for parents raising bilingual children to set aside specific chunks of “language time.”

This doesn’t have to be as regimented as it might sound — it doesn’t mean scheduling a daily grammar lesson with your child. Simply designating times when the language should be spoken, such as during dinner, can be a big help.

4) Network with Other Parents

Building a network of parents raising bilingual children is a great way to share tips and tricks — and compare difficulties — when it comes to raising bilingual children.

Such a network can also be a great way to find bilingual playmates for children to play and practice speaking with.

5) Work to Keep Kids Motivated

After a child reaches a certain age, he might lose interest in learning a language or prefer to speak the one language he is more comfortable with, such as the language spoken at school.

To deal with reluctant learners, parents should get their children involved in fun activities where they must speak the second language from an early age. Activities could include clubs or sports teams where the other children involved are native or bilingual speakers, too.

Raising bilingual children and keeping them interested in learning a second language may be difficult, but it’s well worth the effort. Who knows, when your child grows up he or she may decide to be a professional translator or pursue another language-related career.

So remain patient, encourage your child to use both languages and provide rewards for continued practice. Your kids will thank you for it later.