An expert in children's speech and language development has emphasized the importance of a single practice for parents when reading to toddlers, which can significantly aid their speech and vocabulary enhancement. Children begin to pick up commonly recognized words such as 'mummy' and 'daddy' between the ages of nine and 12 months, influenced largely by the repetition of these words in their environment. The recommendation is for parents to foster a rich language experience through reading to their children, which starts as early as birth.

The NHS supports reading from an early age as it is crucial for boosting brain development, enhancing language skills, and building emotional connections between parents and children. With the changing landscape of children's literacy and declining reading enjoyment reported by the National Literacy Trust, engaging in reading effectively is more important than ever. Since some children develop at varying paces, this advice aims to encourage proactive participation from parents during a formative stage of their child's development.

With the alarming trend highlighted in the National Literacy Trust's report indicating that reading enjoyment among children and young people is at its lowest level, parents are urged to adopt methods that can rekindle their interest in books. The expert's emphasis on specific reading strategies speaks not only to the individual development of children but also to a broader societal need for nurturing the next generation’s literacy skills, encouraging lifelong reading habits and ensuring that children gain the confidence to communicate effectively.