Promoting children's early language development in socioeconomically vulnerabe areas
Children’s early language skills lay the foundation for future academic achievement, social development, and overall well-being. Unfortunately, children growing up in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas face a higher risk of falling behind in language development as early as 18 months of age, which can lead to long-term disadvantages. To counteract this inequality, a language development intervention is currently being evaluated for young children starting from 8 months of age.
The project aims to evaluate an intervention integrated into the child healthcare system’s existing expanded home visiting program, designed to support language development during the first two years of life. The goal is to strengthen children’s language skills in their early years and thereby contribute to a more equitable start in life. By targeting parents and equipping them with tools to support their child’s language development, the initiative helps create better conditions for children's future learning and health.
The project examines
- How effective the intervention is in strengthening early language development in children
- Under which conditions the intervention has the greatest impact
- How the intervention can best be implemented within child healthcare services for long-term use
Status of the project
To examine the effectiveness of the intervention on children's language development, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted. The study targets parents of infants participating in the expanded home visiting program within Children Healthcare Services in Stockholm. By focusing on parents as a vital resource for supporting language development, the project aims to ensure equal developmental opportunities for children, regardless of their socioeconomic background - which, in turn, may contribute to long-term improvements in public health.
Ethics and funding
An application will be submitted to the Swedish Ethical Review Authority prior to the start of the study. The study is funded by the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation.
Project members
Linda Forssman
Principal investigatorAssociate professor in psychology at Uppsala university