want to improve your baby's intelligence? talk to them – a lot
new research has found that parents who talk to young children regularly not only help improve their children's vocabulary but also improve nonverbal abilities such as reasoning and numerical comprehension.
in the nearly 40 years since the original study was proposed, the 30 million word gap has come a long way. the results showed that children born in poverty heard, on average, 30 million fewer words than their wealthier peers by their third birthday.
the results of this relatively small study have been controversial for years, claiming racial bias and subsequent studies failed to replicate the results.
but one thing everyone involved seemed to agree on was that the number of words a child heard in early childhood was important, and the new study found that the resulting differences could be more pronounced than previously thought.
impact on non-verbal skills
researchers at the university of york found that the number of words children heard not only improved their vocabulary and language skills but also promoted the development of nonverbal abilities such as reasoning, numerical comprehension, and shape awareness.
the study included 107 children who used a tape recorder to record their daily lives over three days.
the researchers found a positive correlation between cognitive ability and the quality of adult language heard by children (based on word count and vocabulary diversity).
the researchers acknowledge the need to further investigate the reasons behind this link, but the experts are not surprised.
the benefits of talking to your child
Sara Piekarski, a language pathologist in Tucson, Arizona, recently said the link was "absolutely accurate.
"When children grow up in a language-rich environment, they shape the way they understand, perceive and use language," she said. as parents, we lead by example, and even at a very young age, our children naturally develop the same language methods and usage methods.
Dr. Dippesh Navsaria, the spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and membera of the Early Childhood Committee Executive Committee, agrees. But he reminds parents to consider that it may not just be the number of words heard that will have an impact.
"I think the observations made by the researchers may be correct because nonverbal seems to have increased based on the number of adult words heard," he said. "but I think it's hard to control in research not just the verbal interactions, but the nonverbal interactions that happen.
as he explains, the number of words spoken may simply represent the number of responses and nurturing interactions that occur.
"it's not about words, it's about interaction," he explains. "if your parents are dumb, they can still have positive interactions with their children. they should not think that the lack of words will hinder them in any way. ”
focus on positive interactions
there is a great deal of research on the importance of these parent-child interactions for cognitive development and behavioral outcomes.
building responsive nurturing relationships with children can have a significant impact on their overall development.
this is also acknowledged by the researchers of the latest study, who report that positive parenting styles (parental responses and encouragement to exploration and expression) are associated with fewer signs of restlessness, aggression, and disobedience in the children studied.
so the role here may be more than just the number of words spoken. parents who may be talking more to their children are also more likely to respond and positively interact with their children.
"When parents respond positively and encourage their children to explore and express themselves," Navsaria continues, "they are basically creating an environment where children know they are being heard and understand that they can influence the attention of others positively." ”
voice quality
the next question many parents reading this study may have is the importance of how they talk to their children.
for example, there has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding baby talk over the years, with some experts suggesting opposing it, while others argue that any interaction that is natural for parents.
Piekarski says, "I always talk to my own children in the language I would use with older kids and peers. However, it's just a matter of personal preference, and honestly, how it arises naturally. ”
she sees the positive benefits of this in her children and notices that they start to have a higher level of vocabulary from an early age. but she also said that when a speech-language pathologist is a mom, it could be just part of the field.
Navsaria, meanwhile, firmly falls into the "feel-natural" camp.
"Parents should talk to their children in any way they feel comfortable with," he said. "I don't think it's a big deal that I would say you have to speak in one way or another. go with the flow.
he worries that when trying to over-instruct parents on how to talk to their children, we may make parents too nervous about doing things "right". these interactions then become blunt and less beneficial overall.
find what you feel natural about
still, for some parents, talking to a child who doesn't talk back can be uncomfortable.
for those parents, Piekarski advises, "tell your story." it can be exhausting and overstimulating, but I've always found that describing the world around us, asking open-ended questions, reading books, and asking questions about what you've seen and heard can multiply the quality of your child's language development. ”
If that makes you uncomfortable, Piekarski says it's okay. Over time and with practice, it becomes more natural to talk to your baby without expecting a response. Even if they haven't spoken verbally, you'll start to recognize signs of engagement from your child.
but those face-to-face interactions are really the most important.
Navsaria notes that words your child hears on TV or on the radio don't count.
"We have other studies that show that these words are no different. these words need to come from living people in the environment where the child interacts to have an impact on development," he explains.
he added, "there's a saying like, 'screen time stole away in real-time.'" nothing your child can watch on the app is truly educational, or as beneficial as the real-time interactions they can get from you. even if it doesn't hurt, what it's doing is stealing interaction time. it is these interactions that drive development.
he concluded that parents should remember, "there is no app that can replace your knees.
he encourages parents to emphasize rotation when their children grow up, ask questions and give them a chance to respond.
Navsaria wants parents to know that it's not just a rant at your child, but about the reciprocal relationship that's happening.
Piekarski agrees, noting that "getting children to notice their environment and express what they see is a great gift that parents can give." ”