- New report reveals parents aren’t reading to their children.
- Preply finds many parents aren’t even talking to their babies at all.
- Online searches show a 74% spike in “should I talk to my baby?”.
- Language experts warn that without real, responsive speech, children risk delayed language development.
As a new study highlights how parents aren’t reading to their children, online language learning platform Preply uncovers a wider trend: many parents are skipping essential early conversations altogether.
Searches for “should I talk to my baby?” have surged by 74% in the past month, suggesting that thousands of parents are unsure about one of the most fundamental aspects of early development: speaking to their child. This growing uncertainty follows a TikTok video, now viewed over 95k times, in which a mother claims she doesn’t talk to her baby at all.
While the video has drawn fierce debate in the comments, Preply warns that the issue it highlights is real: a growing number of parents are confused or disengaged when it comes to speaking to their young children, especially when adding technological factors.
A decline in reading and speaking
This emerging behaviour coincides with broader findings from a Nielsen and HarperCollins report, which shows:
- A steep drop in the number of parents frequently reading aloud to children under four (41%, down from 64% in 2012)
- Less than half (40%) of parents say they enjoy reading to their children
- Many parents stop reading aloud once a child can read independently, falsely believing it discourages independence
The impact of not talking to babies and its importance
Anna Pyshna, spokesperson for Preply, explains the issue:
“This isn’t just about bedtime stories, as we’re now seeing a worrying decline in the most basic form of learning: spoken interaction between parent and child. Babies and toddlers learn language from the environment around them, but only if it’s interactive. They need real words, real responses, and real emotion.
“When a child isn’t being spoken to, the brain is being deprived of crucial input during a sensitive period of development. It’s not just about words but about wiring the brain for communication.
“Not talking to babies means they can miss out on vocabulary exposure in context, syntax and grammar patterns through repetition, conversational rhythm, tone, and social cues, as well as opportunities to mimic, babble, and engage.”
Preply sought the insights of Melissa Baese-Berk, Associate Linguistics Professor at the University of Chicago, who adds that a wide range of input helps children absorb language more fully:
“Lullabies and storytelling are good tools for language learning because they are engaging in ways that everyday conversation might not be. Meanwhile, storytelling and reading books to kids often involves multiple modalities (spoken language and, for example, pictures in books) which might help children pay closer attention to the language that is being used. Similarly, music is engaging for children as well. They obviously aren’t mandatory for language learning, but surrounding your child with a variety of input might also be more fun and interesting for the parents too!”
The Ms Rachel debate: Screens help, but they can’t replace you
Popular creators like Ms Rachel have built massive followings by providing educational content for babies and toddlers and while these resources can be helpful, experts say they should never replace human interaction.
Anna Pyshna explains: “Educational videos can supplement language exposure, but they’re passive. They don’t respond to your child’s cues, expressions, or babbling. That back-and-forth interaction is what drives language development.
“Screens aren’t harmful in moderation, but they’re not a substitute for live communication. Children need to experience real interaction to understand how language works in social situations.”
Anna concludes: “You don’t need flashcards or formal lessons, you just need to talk. Your voice is their foundation. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple sentence spoken with love.”