The Hart and Risley Study

The Hart and Risley Study, conducted in the early 1990s, examined how the number of words children hear from parents and caregivers influences their vocabulary development. They found that children from families with higher socioeconomic status hear thousands more words daily than those from lower-status families. This difference in language exposure significantly impacts children's language skills, academic success, and social development. The study highlights the importance of early language-rich environments for children's growth and emphasizes the role of parental interaction in shaping future learning opportunities.