As a parent, you likely want to do everything possible to encourage child development in your young one. One of the most effective ways to do this is to engage in conversations with them, even if they aren’t able to respond. Doing so provides a host of mental and emotional benefits, including the following.

3 Ways Conversations Aid in Child Development

1. Language Acquisition

Children learn to speak by listening to their parents and other adults. As they hear words and associate them with actions or objects, they develop a vocabulary and learn to articulate their thoughts. By engaging in conversations with your child, you help them access a broader range of words.

2. Brain Development

A recent study between Harvard, Penn, and MIT found that Broca's area of the brain, which controls motor function, was more active in children between the ages of 4 and 6 if they could hold an active conversation. Additionally, other studies have found that infants as young as nine months old can try to engage in conversation with their parents, even if their responses sound like babbling. Communicating with your child encourages their motor functions and drives them to start trying to speak earlier.

3. Emotional Response

It is a fact that babies recognize their parents’ voices, and the sound brings them feelings of comfort and protection. Talking to your child has a soothing effect and fosters a deeper connection with your baby.

Beyond conversations, one of the top ways to encourage child development is to enroll them in a high-quality child care program. That’s where Great Beginnings in St. Charles and St. Peters, MO, comes in. The licensed center provides early childhood education, infant and after-school care, and before-school programs designed to engage kids’ minds and give them the tools to succeed. Visit their website to learn more about their programs. Call their St. Charles center at (636) 724-5048 or their St. Peters location at (636) 447-4212.