Right from Birth: Eliminating the Talk Gap in Young Children

The purpose of this 2015 paper by Dr. Steven F. Warren is twofold. First, it describes the challenge presented by the huge ?word gap? discovered by Hart and Risley. These researchers first identified an experiential gap that develops over the early childhood period, leaving many children already far behind their age peers when they enter kindergarten. Then, it summarizes a small set of strategies that research has shown can enhance young children?s language development if used frequently. These strategies can be employed by family members and other caregivers to close the word gap.