Researchers find strong link between vocabulary at age two and later school success

toddler girl talkingA recent study found that children with larger oral vocabularies at age two had better math and language skills and fewer behavioral problems when they entered kindergarten. 

The study was conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, the University of California, Irvine, and Columbia University and was published in the journal Child Development.

Researchers also attempted to identify children in need of early intervention. They found that children born with low birth weight, from single parent homes, lower socioeconomic status or households where the mother had health problems had smaller oral vocabularies.

The study reiterates the need for early interventions that focus on oral vocabulary for at-risk infants and toddlers.

Read the full article from Reuters here.