The New York Times reported that children exposed to more speech from parents or caregivers before age 3 demonstrate stronger learning abilities.
U.S. Study: Chatty Parents Raise Smarter Kids (Public Health Network)
The University of Kansas studied 42 families in Providence, Rhode Island, recording and analyzing one hour of parent-child interaction each month—including the frequency of parental praise, conversation topics, and whether interactions were positive or negative. When the children reached age 9, researchers assessed their academic performance.
The study found that children in welfare-dependent families heard only 600 words per hour, while those in working-class families heard 1,200 words per hour. Children of professional parents heard 2,100 words per hour. By age 3, children in the lowest-exposure families had heard 30 million fewer words than those in the highest-exposure families.Intelligence test results revealed that children exposed to more words from parents or caregivers before age 3 had higher IQs and performed better academically once enrolled in school. Watching television, however, did not provide this cognitive benefit.