Early Words Key for Boys

Developing language skills appears to be more important for boys than girls in helping them develop self-control, according to a study led by a Michigan State University researcher.

Developing language skills appears to be more important for boys than girls in helping them develop self-control, according to a study led by a Michigan State University researcher. Thus, more emphasis should be placed on encouraging boy toddlers to “use their words” to solve problems, according to Claire Vallotton, MSU assistant professor of child development.

“It shouldn’t be chalked off as boys being boys,” she adds. “They need extra attention from child-care providers and teachers to help them build language skills and to use those skills to regulate their emotions and behaviour.”

The researchers examined data on children aged one to three years and their mothers who participated in the National Early Head Start Research and Evaluation study. It was found that language skills—specifically the building of vocabulary—tend to help children regulate their emotions and behaviour, and that boys lag girls in both language skills and self-regulation.