INDIANAPOLIS — A new research study shows having conversations with infants and toddlers will eventually help their reading skills.
The study was done by the nonprofit research organization LENA and focuses on children from birth to 3 years old.
"That language piece of it is intertwined, they're not separate of pre-literacy skills," said Jodi Whiteman, director of partnership and growth at LENA.
Whiteman said it will also improve their social and emotional development.
According to experts, parents and caregivers are not talking to their kids enough, which will impact their learning development later.
"They come to school so they can learn, but it also has to continue at home as well," said Twjonia Webb, an education manager at Family Development Services.
Webb has worked in early education for 20 years. She said teaching your kids at home isn't as difficult as you think. It is about regular communication.
"There's this big idea of you have to have the right words to say," Webb said. "You have to have the right materials at home. We want this to be a natural practice in their natural routine."
Even though infants and toddlers may not be able to talk back, it's important to keep the conversation going.