Multilingual environment language development

[mumtobeinDevon]

15 mo is speaking/understanding minimally in Dutch, Portuguese and English (we live in UK). Current advice is to prioritise minority language as long as possible. Does this mean not responding or translating the English words she seems to say? I speak solely Portuguese to dd and dad speaks a mix of Dutch, Portuguese (just words) and English. We have regular Portuguese language childcare, as well as English childminder(s)

I just repeated the word in my language and then responded when they were very small and communication was key. It’s not ideal for her dad to be speaking multiple languages though, OPOL (one person one language) is the usual aim.

I've got friends where one of them is Italian and the other is a Spanish speaker. Their child was born in England and they've always lived here since. Each parent speaks solely in their own language to the child, who is now 6. He was delayed in speaking at all, and when he started speaking, would mix up words from all 3 languages in sentences. He now speaks only English. They speak to him in their language and he understands but will reply only in English. He is an intelligent child.

One sentence one language is what the current research says and what we have been told. Sony mix the sentences up. As in some words english some dutch and some Portuguese.

Being in the UK and going to school full time means English will be the dominate and proficient language.