Teaching Parents to Build Language Skills in Young Children

This study is testing Talk With Me Baby, a program that teaches parents and caregivers simple, evidence-based strategies to build their child's language skills during routine doctor visits. The program is delivered by pediatricians, family medicine doctors, and care team members during regular checkups for babies and toddlers. Researchers want to see if this approach helps close gaps in language development across all families.

Research shows that the quality of conversations between parents and children in the first few years of life affects a child's development, school success, and even long-term health. While experts have identified strategies that work, these approaches haven't yet reached most families. This trial tests whether delivering language coaching in primary care—where almost all families with young children already go—is a practical way to help more children thrive.