Let’s Talk (Literally): Why Screen Time is Stealing Our Kids’ Words

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We live in an era where everything—including our children’s entertainment—is at our fingertips. Need a distraction during dinner prep? Here’s a tablet. Cranky toddler in the grocery cart? Swipe to Cocomelon. Tired after a long day? TV time seems harmless enough.

But as screens take up more and more space in our lives, they’re quietly crowding out something much more vital for our kids’ development: conversation. Yep, good old-fashioned talking. And I am not just saying this as someone almost voted Most Talkative in the class (I was robbed…).

I am talking, the kind of interaction where words bounce back and forth, where faces light up, and where connection fuels learning.

Research has revealed something sobering. Excessive screen time, particularly in the toddler and early childhood years, is linked to delayed language acquisition. And when language is delayed, it ripples into other areas of development, from reading skills to social communication to problem-solving.

But here’s the good news. Conversing with our kids isn’t complicated. You don’t need fancy parenting apps, tools or a linguistics degree. All you need is your voice, your presence, and a little intentionality.

Why Words Matter (More Than We Realize)

Language isn’t just about parroting words. It’s the foundation of how we think, connect, and make sense of the world. From infancy, babies’ brains are wired to tune into human speech. They recognize voices, copy sounds, and grow their vocabularies based on interactions with the people closest to them.

A famous study found that by age three, kids from higher-language households (where adults spoke more with and around their children) heard nearly 30 million more words than those from lower-language environments. This “word gap” is key because language-rich experiences early on are directly tied to success in school and beyond.

Screens, though? They don’t talk with our kids. Sure, they’re shiny and engaging. But a show, no matter how educational, isn’t going to pause and ask, “What do you think about this?” or say, “Wow! Great idea!” Screens spill out words without listening, leaving kids as passive recipients instead of active participants.

It’s proven – hearing human voices is better for speech, language, vocabulary, and pre-reading skills development because of the interactive, responsive, and dynamic nature of human communication. Here’s why:

1. Two-Way Interaction: Human communication is interactive. When a child hears a human voice, they can respond, ask questions, and get  feedback. This back-and-forth exchange is vital for developing conversational skills, understanding social cues, and learning how language works in real-time.
2. Emotional Connection: Human voices convey emotion, tone, and intent, which helps children understand the nuances of language. This emotional connection fosters engagement and makes learning more meaningful.
3. Adaptability: Humans can adjust their speech based on the child’s needs, age, and comprehension level. For example, a parent might simplify their language, repeat words, or emphasize certain sounds to help a child grasp concepts more effectively.
4. Phonemic Awareness: Hearing human voices allows children to pick up on subtle differences in sounds, tones, and rhythms of speech, which are essential for phonemic awareness—a key pre-reading skill. Devices often lack the naturaland clarity of human speech.
5. Social and Cognitive Development: Conversations with humans help children develop social skills, empathy, and problem-solving abilities. These interactions also stimulate brain development in ways that passive listening to a device cannot.
6. Reduced Passive Consumption: Devices like iPads, phones, or TVs often promote passive consumption of content, which doesn’t engage the brain in the same way as active, participatory communication with a human.
7. Attention and Focus: Human interaction encourages children to focus and pay attention, as they are actively involved in the exchange. Screen-based interactions can be overstimulating or distracting, which may hinder learning and affect attention span as children can become internally distracted and not have the skills to stay engaged without support.

The Magic of Books in Building Words

Speaking of words, there’s one time-tested activity that beats even the best narrated strolls through the grocery store. Reading. It’s simple, accessible, and one of the single greatest tools for expanding your child’s vocabulary while also bonding.

When I think back to my daughter’s early years, I honestly credit her rich vocabulary to the hours we spent poring over books together. Fancy Nancy, in particular, was a game-changer in our house. If you’ve never read the series, Nancy speaks in the most elaborate, glittering vocabulary, complete with delightful little explanations tucked seamlessly into the story (like how “spectacular” is a fancier word for “great”). I would be remiss if I didn’t link a Fancy Nancy Box Set—a fun and impactful way to combine reading and learning!

With every story, my daughter wasn’t just learning words. She was learning big words, playful phrases, and how to use them in life. The books didn’t just hand her a vocabulary list. They enthralled her with characters so fun and engaging that new words seemed like a bonus prize. And because I made it a point to stop and talk about those big words, she started to own them. (Her ability to use “concealed” in a sentence authentically at bedtime one night before age 5 was proof of that!)

Reading aloud and discussing the stories not only enriches vocabulary but also nurtures comprehension. It’s a double play for language development: kids hear the words and then talk through what they mean, putting their new knowledge into practice.

How Talking (and Reading) Builds More Than Words

Talking and reading aren’t just about vocabulary (although that’s incredibly important). They shape a broader set of life-ready skills our kids need, including:

• Listening and Comprehension. Conversations and books both teach kids to focus, respond, and process meaning in real time. They learn to follow stories, recognize tone, and grasp context.
• Problem-Solving and Emotional Skills. Whether you’re discussing how a character feels in a book or narrating what to do after dropping a toy, language helps kids understand their world and problem-solve.
• Connection and Confidence. Positive interactions, whether in a story or in conversation, build trust and attachment. A child who feels heard is a child who feels confident in their voice, too.

Talk (and Read) Anytime, Anywhere

One of the best things about language-building is that it’s incredibly flexible. You can talk and read to your child anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, in the car, or tucking them into bed, these moments are golden opportunities for connection and growth.

When my kids were little, I was that parent who never stopped talking. I narrated the grocery store aisles like a nature documentary. I filled our car rides with silly questions and observations. And my husband and/or I read to them every single night. Then they would read to us. Books filled our days with conversations about everything from curious caterpillars to why “meteorologist” was such a fun word to say.

Sometimes it’s fun to have some conversation starters on hand to pick at random. Start conversations with family and kid conversation starter cards—an easy way to boost language skills and bond as a family!

These efforts may have seemed small in the moment, but they laid the groundwork for lifetimes of learning.

Parent Pro Tips for Boosting Vocabulary

If you’re ready to kickstart some epic language-building with your kiddos, here are a few easy ways to do it:

• Read Together Daily. Pick engaging books with rich language (Fancy Nancy will always have my heart). Pause to explain unfamiliar words and ask questions like, “Why do you think the character feels this way?”
• Narrate the World Around You. Whether you’re describing apples at the grocery store or the color of cars at a stoplight, help your child link words to their world.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions. “What do you think will happen next?” sparks more discussion than any yes/no question could.
• Make Books Fun. Use voices, act out parts, and immerse yourself in the story together. The more engaging it is, the more likely your child is to stick around and soak it in.
• Limit Passive Screen Time. Replace one episode of Cocomelon with cuddle-and-book time. The payoff will be huge.

Screens aren’t evil, but they’ll never hold a candle to your words or the magic of a storybook. From the first coos of a baby to the endless questions of a chatty preschooler, your voice has the power to shape their minds, their confidence, and, ultimately, their futures.

So grab a book, a stroller, or even just your voice and give your kids the greatest gift of all: your attention and your words. Each syllable isn’t just a step toward stronger learning skills. It’s a step toward connection, trust, and, yes, a vocabulary so fancy it would make Nancy herself proud.