A 3 year old speaks both English and Spanish. What would be the teacher's best response to a father's concern about her mixing vocabulary between languages?

The appropriate response is to reassure the father that bilingual children often shift between languages at this age. This phenomenon, known as code-switching, is a normal part of bilingual language development. Young children who are exposed to multiple languages may mix vocabulary or switch between languages in their speech as they navigate both linguistic systems. This behavior is a natural part of their learning process and indicates that they are actively engaging with the languages they hear.

Research has shown that children who are bilingual typically have a rich and nuanced language experience, and they are capable of separating the languages as they develop greater proficiency. Encouraging the father to understand that this mixing is a common and expected part of her bilingual development can help alleviate his concerns, supporting a positive environment for language growth.

The other options would not address the father’s concerns in a way that supports the child’s bilingualism and could create unnecessary stress for both the father and the child. Limiting language exposure or suggesting a single-language educational approach could hinder the child's bilingual development and diminish her linguistic and cognitive benefits from being multilingual.