Miss this, and your child might struggle to speak later

Mags from Academicus
Sep 29
3 min read

Updated: Oct 20

I want to tell you a true story.

Once upon a time, there lived a boy called Victor.

Victor didn’t live in a house. He didn’t sleep in a warm bed or eat dinner with a family. He lived in the woods around Aveyron, a quiet, misty forest in the south of France.

No one knew how he got there. No one knew who his parents were. All they knew was that he had survived alone in the wild for years—maybe seven, maybe more.

Victor was first spotted by villagers. He darted between trees like an animal, naked, with long tangled hair, and eyes that never settled on one thing for long. He was fast and silent, feeding on roots and small animals, completely separate from human life.

Eventually, in the year 1800, Victor was caught and brought into the village.

People were amazed—and disturbed. Here was a boy who looked like any other, but he couldn’t speak. He didn’t respond to his name—because he had none. He didn’t follow instructions, didn’t make eye contact, and didn’t seem to understand even the simplest of human gestures.

Victor had lived through his early years—the most important years for learning—without human connection. No lullabies whispered to him. No parent to gaze into his eyes and respond when he babbled. No arms to rock him while singing softly. No words wrapped in love.

You see, what happened to Victor has taught scientists, psychologists, and educators something crucial—and modern studies confirm it: there is a critical window for language development - and it lasts six years - the first six years of a child's life.

Miss it, and your child may struggle to reach their full potential in communication.

There is good news though: there are things we can be doing as parents to help our babies and young kids develop rich language - even in multi-lingual environments:

3 Simple Steps to Boost Your Child’s Language Development

1. Connect before you speak - do not speak AT your child, speak WITH your child

Language doesn’t grow from words—it grows from connection. Before talking, pause, make eye contact, and wait for your child to look back at you. Speak slowly, clearly, and with warmth. And wait for their response. This teaches them that language is not noise—it’s communication, it’s relationship.

Montessori insight: The child absorbs what they experience emotionally. Your calm, respectful tone helps them link language with trust and security.

2. Name the real world—precisely and beautifully

Whether you’re at home or outside, offer your child real words for the world they see: “This is a daffodil,” not just “flower.” “Here’s the spatula,” not just “thing for cooking.” These rich, specific words feed your child’s growing mind and satisfy their natural curiosity.

Montessori insight: During the “sensitive period for language” kids crave words the way plants crave sunlight. Offering real, precise vocabulary is how we nourish that growth.

3. Create an environment that speaks:

Fill your home with meaningful language opportunities—books with realistic images, songs, simple conversations during routines, and time outdoors to talk about what you see. Reduce background noise and screens, and instead fill the space with your voice, your stories, and songs.

Montessori insight: The environment is the child’s teacher. A calm, rich, and responsive home environment invites the child to listen, imitate, and eventually speak with confidence.