The Developmental Process of the Heritage Language Parent Tool

Abstract This article describes the development of a tool for heritage language parents ( HLP s) to reflect on and guide their home practices for heritage language development and maintenance. It begins by making a case for better support for HLP s and the need for appropriate resources to empower parents and their children to make informed choices about their own language and identity preservation and development. Next, the article describes how the HLP tool was created, from initial stakeholder engagement through its four design iterations. We detail the processes we engaged in to establish the reliability and validity of the tool to ensure it meets the needs of our communities. We conclude by making some recommendations for others involved in supporting heritage language learners.