What is it about?
This study looked at how well babies' early language skills and language environment (that is, the amount and types of speech babies hear in their everyday lives) predict preschool language development. We found that children’s own language abilities, especially how many words they say around 18 months, were stronger predictors of their language skills three years later than what they heard.
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Why is it important?
Understanding what best predicts children’s language development helps caregivers and professionals support early learning. This study suggests that a toddler vocabulary checklist, which can be filled out by a parent in 30 minutes or less, can tell us a lot about children's language skills even years down the road.
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This page is a summary of: Early child measures outpredict input measures of preschool language skills in U.S. English learners., Developmental Psychology, July 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/dev0002019.
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