Just because they can’t talk back, doesn’t mean they don’t know what you’re saying.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that infants between the ages of six and nine months can grasp meanings of common words long before they can speak them.
"I think it’s surprising in the sense that the kids at this age aren’t saying anything, they’re not pointing, they’re not walking," said Elika Bergelson, one of the researchers. "But actually, under the surface, they’re trying to put together the things in the world with the words that go with them.”
In one test, researchers showed babies, who sat on their parents’ laps, a screen with two images, one of which was an apple. When the parent asked, “Where is the apple?” most of the babies looked intently at the correct image.
"I think this study presents a great message to parents: You can talk to your babies, and they're going to understand a bit of what you're saying. They're not going to give us back witty repartee, but they understand some of it. And the more they know, the more they can build on what they know,” said lead researcher Dr. Daniel Swingley.
The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Next time your offspring seems to understand what you’re taking about, she probably does.
When did you start noticing word-recognition in your young ones?
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