What role do parents play in a child's language development?

Parents play a crucial role in a child's language development primarily through modeling language use and engaging in interactive communication. This means that parents naturally demonstrate vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills during their daily interactions with children. The back-and-forth dialogue, also referred to as "dialogic reading" or "serve and return" interaction, provides children with opportunities to hear how language works in context.

When parents engage with their children by asking questions, responding to their utterances, and expanding on what they say, they create a rich linguistic environment that facilitates learning. This exposure helps children acquire the sounds of their language, understand syntax, and grasp new vocabulary. The interactive nature of these conversations encourages practice, reinforces language patterns, and supports a child's ability to communicate effectively.

In contrast, other approaches, such as imposing strict rules, discouraging language practice, or primarily focusing on non-verbal communication, would limit a child's opportunities to explore and learn language effectively. These would not facilitate the same level of language development as the interactive modeling and engagement provided by parents.