Unlocking the secrets of early language development: Children and communication

Curious about why some children start talking earlier than others?

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Duke University offers fascinating insights into this phenomenon.

Let's find out more!

Gender doesn't matter that much

Contrary to popular belief, the study found that parents do not talk more to their young daughters in comparison to their sons.

Rather, parents tend to engage in more conversation with children who are already talking, regardless of gender.

This discovery suggests that children actively shape their own language environments as they grow. 

By tracking the language input and output of 44 children aged six to 18 months, the researchers observed that girls had larger vocabularies than boys, but this disparity was not due to increased conversational practice or earlier speech.

Instead, parents naturally gravitated towards talking more to their children once they began expressing themselves verbally, regardless of whether they were boys or girls.

Now can better understand how children develop

These groundbreaking findings challenge existing beliefs about gender-based language input and shed light on the influential role children play in shaping their linguistic surroundings.

Published in the prestigious journal Child Development, this research marks a significant step forward in our understanding of early brain development and communication.
 

• Related news:
• children
• research
• development
• 19 July 2023

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