Babies born during the pandemic are less chatty compared to babies born before COVID-19, according to studies done around the world. In one study, children who started school in 2020 needed more language support than in previous years. And in another independent study, researchers from Brown University in the USA used a wearable “talk pedometer” to measure the number of words spoken near the child, and how many words or sounds the child said. The researchers found that child language scores decreased sharply in 2021 and 2022.
The talk pedometer machine also noted when children and adults talked to one another in what’s called “turn conversations” – this is when people take turns to ask questions and listen for a reply. For example, a turn conversation is when you ask your toddler, “Do you want water?” What about milk? And then you wait until she takes her turn in the conversation by nodding or waving her hands or saying “Juice” or whatever..
These “turn conversions” are very important when it comes to developing language skills. They give a child the chance to think, decide and interact with adults. And turn conversations are very important for babies who are learning to talk because they help the baby learn how language works, and stimulate their brain development.
Researchers have not pinpointed exactly why the pandemic has affected verbal skills, but obviously children stuck at home get much less interaction with teachers, friends and family. They get less turn conversations, and less exposure to a range of words and different accents and language patterns.
If the pandemic has affected how children learn language skills, what can parents do about it? These six tricks can make a difference, and they don’t take any fancy or expensive equipment.