Research from the University of York reveals that children exposed to more varied and frequent adult speech show improved reasoning, numeracy, and behaviour, emphasising the power of everyday conversations with babies and toddlers.
A study from the University of York suggests that children who hear more adult speech in early life tend to develop stronger thinking skills, adding weight to the long-held advice that parents should simply talk more with their babies and toddlers.
Researchers studied 107 children aged two to four, fitting each child with a small audio recorder for three days to capture everyday conversation at home. The team then compared the amount of adult speech children heard with results from simple cognitive tasks, including drawing, matching and copying exercises. According to the University of York, the children who were exposed to more speech performed better on measures of reasoning, numeracy and shape awareness.
The findings also pointed to the importance of how adults speak, not just how much they speak. Children who heard more varied vocabulary from parents and caregivers tended to know a wider range of words themselves. The researchers said responsive interaction mattered too, with children showing fewer behavioural problems when adults encouraged exploration and responded to their thoughts and feelings.
Katrina d’Apice, a PhD student at the university and the study’s lead author, said the recorder-based approach gave the team a clearer picture of how families communicate in daily life without altering their behaviour. Sophie von Stumm, a professor in the Department of Education and a co-author, said the work showed that the amount of speech children hear can vary widely between families and even from one day to the next. The researchers said more study is needed to understand exactly why the link exists, including whether more talkative adults simply respond to children who are already more engaged.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
