Talking to babies boosts their brain power, studies show (Ian Sample, The Guardian)

Children whose parents speak to them least fare worst in language tests, lagging behind by up to six months at age two.

A newborn baby. Photograph: Alamy.

Reading bedtime stories to babies and talking to them from birth boosts their brain power and sets them up for success at school, researchers say.

Studies on babies and toddlers found that striking differences emerged in their vocabularies and language processing skills as early as 18 months old.

Children whose parents spoke to them least came out worst in language tests, and at 24 months old some lagged behind their contemporaries by up to six months. The handicap often stayed with the children and influenced how well they did at school over the next six years.