As parents, we often hear that reading to our babies is the best way to set them up for future success.
The idea is simple: the more words they hear, the better their language skills will be.
But what if the key to better communication isn’t sitting down with a book—but simply chatting to them throughout the day?
A groundbreaking study by researchers from the UK Economic and Social Research Institute and the University of Limerick in Ireland suggests exactly that.
In fact, talking to your baby while going about daily life may be even more beneficial for their cognitive development than reading—a surprising twist in the conventional wisdom of early childhood education.
A Closer Look at the Study
Psychologist Suzanne Egan from the University of Limerick led a research team that interviewed parents of 7,845 nine-month-old infants about their daily interactions.
The team examined three key activities:
- Reading books
- Showing pictures
- Talking while doing everyday tasks
To assess the effects of these interactions, researchers used the Ages and Stages Questionnaire—a standardized tool used by organizations such as the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society—to measure infants’ communication and problem-solving skills.
Given prior research highlighting the benefits of reading, the team anticipated that reading books would be the most beneficial activity. But the data told a different story.
The Surprising Results
While reading did have positive effects, the study found that talking to infants throughout the day had an even greater impact on their communication and problem-solving skills.
Here’s what the study discovered:
- Reading added 1.35 points to a child’s problem-solving score and 0.84 points to communication.
- Always talking to the child added 4.11 points to problem-solving and 3.66 points to communication.
- Showing pictures added 2.23 points to communication, but had no significant impact on problem-solving.
Notably, these benefits held true regardless of maternal education, gestational age, daycare attendance, breastfeeding, attachment, or the presence of siblings.
In short, reading is valuable—but actively engaging your child in everyday conversation has an even stronger effect.
Why Is Talking So Powerful?
Most parents already understand that reading helps children develop vocabulary and comprehension.
But why does informal talk have an even greater effect?
Experts suggest that real-world conversations provide richer, more dynamic learning experiences.
While books introduce structured language, everyday interactions expose babies to a greater variety of words, tones, and contexts. For example:
- Talking while cooking introduces descriptive words (hot, cold, stir, mix).
- Narrating a walk outside exposes babies to action words (run, stop, jump).
- Asking questions prompts them to think and engage, even if they can’t answer yet.
Unlike reading, daily conversations are interactive, which helps infants develop social skills, memory processing, and problem-solving abilities at a faster rate.
Challenging the Reading Myth
For decades, experts have urged parents to prioritize reading.
While no one is suggesting you should stop reading to your child, this research challenges the notion that reading alone is the gold standard for early learning.
In fact, an overemphasis on reading might even lead parents to miss out on more natural, fluid conversations that provide greater cognitive benefits.
Consider this: reading typically happens in short, structured bursts.
But conversation happens all day, every day—meaning infants hear hundreds or even thousands more words than they would through books alone.
And in a world where parents are busier than ever, this finding is encouraging—because it means you don’t need to set aside extra time to boost your child’s development.
Simply talking while you cook, clean, or run errands is enough to make a real difference.
How to Incorporate More Talking Into Your Baby’s Day
Now that we know just how valuable conversation is, here are some simple ways to integrate more of it into daily life:
1. Narrate Everyday Activities
Instead of doing chores in silence, talk through them:
- “Mommy is putting the plates in the dishwasher. Now I’m turning on the water.”
- “Let’s pick out your socks. Do you want the red ones or the blue ones?”
2. Ask Questions (Even If They Can’t Answer Yet)
- “Where did your teddy bear go?”
- “What sound does a dog make?”
Even if your baby can’t respond yet, these questions build critical thinking skills.
3. Imitate and Expand on Their Sounds
- If your baby says “ba-ba,” respond with “Yes, that’s your bottle!”
- If they giggle, giggle back and say, “That was funny, wasn’t it?”
4. Use a Variety of Words
Studies show that exposure to a diverse vocabulary helps with early language development. Instead of always saying, “big,” try “huge,” “gigantic,” or “enormous.”
5. Sing and Play With Sound
Singing and rhyming help babies recognize patterns in language, which can make learning to speak easier.
The Bottom Line
The idea that reading is the single most important activity for language development is a well-meaning but incomplete narrative.
While reading is valuable, it is not enough on its own.
This study makes it clear: the best thing you can do for your baby’s brain is to simply talk to them—constantly, naturally, and about everything.
And the best part?
You don’t need expensive books, structured lessons, or extra time.
All it takes is conversation—whether you’re making breakfast, folding laundry, or walking through the park.
So go ahead—chat away. Your baby’s brain will thank you.
