Every parent waits for their child’s first word. A “Mumma” or “Papa” from the child’s mouth feels like a milestone. So when these words don’t come as expected- worry follows.The first three years of life are a period of extraordinary brain growth. During this time, babies are constantly building neural connections that help them understand sounds, recognise words and eventually form sentences. Thus, certain habits- both of the child and parents- during this stage can either support or hinder a child’s language development.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:38
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Here are some everyday habits in modern parenting that may put a child’s language development at risk.
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Excessive screen time
Of all the lifestyle factors linked to speech delay, excessive screen exposure has the strongest scientific support. A2022 review published in the South African Journal of Communication Disorder analysed research on screen time and language development in young children. According to the review, increased screen time and poor language outcomes in children is associated.Interestingly, the study also noted that the effects were less harmful when children were co-viewing with parents or the viewing was interactive.
Television noise in the background
Many parents don’t think twice about leaving the television on in the background while their toddler plays. After all, the child isn’t actively watching it. But research suggests that even “background TV” can affect the quality of a child’s language environment. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Child Languagefound that mothers used fewer words, a less varied vocabulary and asked fewer questions when background television was present in the home. Since the interaction decreased, the researchers concluded that background television may reduce the very language input young children need the most.
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Too few face-to-face conversations
Children cannot learn a language by simply hearing the words in the background. They learn through responsive, face-to-face interactions- and a parent’s role in this is very important. When a parent smiles or names objects- the back-and-forth exchange is called “serve and return” interactions. They are considered one of the foundations of healthy brain and language development.One of the most influential studies in this field was published inJAMA Pediatrics in 2019. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston Children’s Hospital studied children aged 4 to 6 years using brain imaging. They found that the number of conversational turns between adults and children- not simply the number of words children heard- was strongly associated with language skills and the strength of connections.
What parents can do
The good news is these mistakes can be avoided easily. Small changes in everyday habits can help children with speech improvements. Talking to your child throughout the day, reading books to them, limiting their screen time, turning off background TV, and responding when the baby points towards something are some of the daily habits that can help parents make their children better with language and speech.Furthermore, parents should not panic if their toddler is a late talker nor should they assume that any of the above habits are responsible. Speech development is influenced by biology, health, environment and opportunity, often working together. What the evidence consistently shows is that children thrive when they are spoken to, listened to and included in everyday conversations. A screen cannot replace a smiling face, and a toy cannot substitute for a responsive caregiver.
