Language is one of the most remarkable achievements of early childhood, forming the foundation for communication, cognitive development, and lifelong learning. But how do infants and young children acquire language, and what can parents, caregivers, and educators do to support this critical developmental process?
Join Associate Professor Karen Mattock from the MARCS Institute BabyLab and School of Psychology at Western Sydney University for an engaging webinar exploring the science of early language development. Drawing on cutting-edge research in infant speech perception, babbling, and word learning across diverse linguistic contexts, this session will examine:
- The foundations of language learning: How infants process speech sounds, tones, and patterns from birth, progressing through babbling to early word learning
- Supporting monolingual and bilingual learners: Evidence-based strategies for fostering rich language environments in both single-language and dual-language contexts, including how young children successfully acquire two languages simultaneously, cross-linguistic influences, and the role of language exposure
- Factors that shape language growth: The impact of infant-directed speech, quality and quantity of language input, and environmental factors on developmental trajectories
- Practical applications: Actionable insights for parents, educators, and practitioners to optimise language interaction during the critical early years
- Why early language matters: The long-term impacts of early language development on literacy, academic success, and social-emotional wellbeing
Whether you’re working with monolingual or bilingual families, this webinar will equip you with research-informed strategies to support every child’s linguistic journey during the crucial first years of life.
