Learning to Talk is Harder For Boys

It's something that many parents have said for years: that boys don't pick up talking as quickly as girls.  A recent survey has endorsed this theory.  One in six children found it difficult to learn to talk, with boys finding it more difficult than for girls of the same age.  The survey was carried out by YouGov asking over 1,000 parents with children under seven how their children found learning to talk.  13% of girls had problems and 22% of boys had problems learning to talk and understanding speech.

When it came to significant problems, 5% of boys and only 2% of girls had difficulties.

The survey was carried out by Jean Gross, England's new communications champion.  She commented that a person's ability to communicate was fundamental and is one of the most important skills a child can master.

Learning to talk is a natural process, so many of the problems that children experience are short lived.  The most important aspect is to make your child feel understood.  If they feel you are always correcting them, they may not take chances and try out new words and phrases.  Children also develop at different rates in different ways.  Some say nothing for a long time, but when they talk their language is completely clear and easy to understand.  Others try out words which are more difficult to understand but are happy to chatter away.

Just talk as much as you can with your child: read books, sing songs, say rhymes and have fun together.  If there's anything you're concerned about just speak to your GP or health visitor.