Toddlers' vocabulary really suffered during Covid pandemic: Utrecht researchers

Toddlers’ vocabulary really suffered during the coronavirus pandemic, Utrecht University researchers found in a study commissioned by the municipality of Utrecht. Young children now know fewer words than before the pandemic, AD reports.

Researchers Caroline Junge and Anika van der Klis used data from the YOUth study, an initiative of Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht, to compare the vocabulary of young children in 2015 to that of young children in 2023. They found a clear deterioration.

“A worrying result,” Van der Klis said to AD, adding that they weren’t surprised by it. Children had less contact with other people during the pandemic, the researchers explained the cause. “Later I discovered that children were also offered much less context,” Junge added. “During the coronavirus, the zoo was closed, the library was closed. There were fewer opportunities to practice words with your child.”

Children will catch up and improve their vocabulary later in life, but those words are also essential for the toddler years. “The social-emotional development of children is important. They learn a lot in their early years. They go to school for the first time, make friends, learn to solve problems. Then you need words,” Van der Klis said.

According to the researchers, many parents don’t realize their children are lagging behind in terms of word count. “Parents themselves are much more aware of what their child can do,” Van der Klis explained. They gave some concrete measures of how parents can help develop their child’s vocabulary. Junge: “Everything helps, as long as children hear the language. Go out with your toddler. Go outside with them and turn off your podcast for a while. Talk to your child, ask questions. Show involvement. You wouldn’t believe how many parents bring their child to school while they themselves are wearing headphones.”

The municipality of Utrecht is also taking measures to increase toddlers’ vocabulary. The city is lowering the starting age for preschool from 2.5 to 2 years at a few locations. Youth doctors will visit parents with tips and information, volunteers will read books aloud, and libraries and the child health clinic will also start focusing on language development.