Babies 'tell stories' before they even start talking - study
Researchers have found that infants engage in "story" interactions with their parents before they even begin to speak. These exchanges of emotions and reactions resemble simple stories. This is important because such moments form the foundations of communication and bonding.
Even without speech, the child is already actively participating in dialogue.
Details
Researchers observed how mothers interact with their infants at 4, 7 and 10 months of age.
It turned out that these moments are not chaotic at all. They develop according to an understandable script: first attention, then an increase in emotion, then a "peak" - such as a smile or a sound - and then a natural conclusion.
As we get older, these "mini stories" become more frequent and more complex.
It is important that this is not a one-way process. Both child and parent adjust to each other, as if they were having a dialogue.
Researchers have also observed that such interactions are accompanied by longer-lasting positive emotions - for both child and adult.
Why it matters
It changes the way we look at early child development.
Scientists have noted:
- the basics of communication emerge before speech
- infants are active participants in interaction
- emotional contact plays a key role
It can also help to better understand the peculiarities of development in children.
And most importantly, parents don't need to complicate things. Routine communication, smiles and reactions already work.
Background
It has long been thought that complex communication doesn't begin until speech emerges. But a growing body of research shows that its foundations are laid much earlier.
Babies use looks, facial expressions, movements and sounds to "talk" to others.
Source
The study is based on observation of the interaction between mothers and infants at the ages of 4, 7 and 10 months. It was published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (2026).