Home
Apple News
Lost for words? The quiet language problem affecting today’s children

Lost for words? The quiet language problem affecting today’s children

New research suggests children are using fewer words, and experts warn it could affect confidence and mental wellbeing

two girls standing on side profile with hands near their mouths and speaking into an empty speech bubble drawn on the wall behind them

Hollie Bond

Published: January 21, 2026 at 12:46 PM

Save

New research suggests many parents are worried that children today are quite literally lost for words, and experts say it is not just learning that could suffer, but confidence and mental health too.

A new survey has found that 70% of adults believe children now use fewer words than previous generations, while 67% feel children struggle to express themselves confidently. Screen time is a major concern, with 74% of adults believing phones, tablets and TVs are stunting speech rather than supporting learning.

For busy parents already juggling work, childcare and mental load, it can feel overwhelming. But speech and language experts say even small daily interactions can make a big difference, not just to vocabulary, but to children’s emotional wellbeing too.

Why vocabulary matters for confidence and mental health

Language is about far more than reading and writing. Being able to express thoughts, feelings and needs clearly plays a huge role in a child’s self-esteem and emotional regulation.

Children who struggle to find the right words may feel frustrated, misunderstood or anxious, particularly in social settings or at school. Over time, this can affect confidence and contribute to low mood or behavioural challenges.

Previous research in 2025 by charity Speech and Language UK has highlighted the link between speech difficulties and mental health, showing that children who find communication hard are more likely to experience anxiety and emotional distress.

Supporting language development early can help children feel heard, understood and more secure.

Parents are worried, but unsure where to start

The new research, commissioned by malt loaf brand Soreen, found that while many parents feel responsible for building vocabulary at home, only a small minority feel confident about how to do it.

Screens are often blamed, but experts say the real issue is not devices alone, it is what they replace. Shared reading, conversation and playful interaction are some of the most powerful tools for language development, yet they are often squeezed out of busy days.

To help tackle this, Soreen has partnered with broadcaster, author and lexicographer Susie Dent on a new initiative designed to spark curiosity and conversation around words.

Making wordplay part of everyday life

The partnership sees limited-edition packs of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves featuring a Wordplay insert, introducing new words, their meanings and short origin stories.

susie Dent sat on a sofa holding a yellow book with Soreen written on it

Susie Dent, of Countdown's dictionary corner fame, says the issue is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.

“Evidence suggests that around four in ten children are falling behind in their vocabulary development. Many parents will know that reading, one of the key ways to improve our word power, is often being sacrificed to screen time,” she said.

She adds that learning does not have to be formal or time-consuming.

“But learning comes in many different forms, and we can find it even in the smallest moments of the day, including snack-time.

“From ‘kerfuffle’ to ‘hullabaloo’, the words selected by Soreen will make families smile, wonder and, crucially, talk together about the magic of the dictionary. Wordplay is all about bringing the joy back to language.”

Evidence suggests that around four in ten children are falling behind in their vocabulary development.

Susie Dent, broadcaster and lexicographer

Liz Jacobs, marketing director at Soreen, says the aim is to support parents in a realistic way.

“Parents are looking for ways to support learning at home, but time is tighter than ever. Wordplay fits seamlessly into family life with a snack, a smile, and a new word to try out together,” she said.

The nationwide launch will see one-and-a-half million limited-edition packs rolling out across major UK supermarkets, with Wordplay available now in five-packs of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves.

How to encourage your child’s language development

A mother reading a bedtime story to her daughter under a canopy with fairy lights

The more words a child hears and the more their parent interacts with them, the better their vocabulary and speech is likely to be. You can start this process from day one.

Specialist speech and language therapist Emma Ahern from Zeebra Therapy and The Nook Clinic says speech development begins from birth, and everyday moments really do count.

Speech and language development begins the moment a baby is born, and as parents, we play a vital role in fostering these skills.

Emma Ahern, specialist speech and language therapist

Emma's advice for supporting speech development:

Talk to your baby during routines like feeding, nappy changes and playtime. Narrate what you are doing and label objects clearly.
Bring your face close when talking to newborns and pause to let them ‘reply’ during babbling, encouraging turn-taking.
Reading daily is incredibly impactful. Start with a small selection of books and rotate them every couple of weeks.
Go beyond the text by describing pictures, making animal sounds or playing simple games like I spy.
Singing nursery rhymes with actions, including Makaton or resources like Singing Hands, helps link words with movement.
Minimise background noise by turning off the TV or radio so babies can focus on your voice.
When your child makes mistakes, repeat the sentence back correctly rather than correcting them directly.
Offer choices and use synonyms to gently expand vocabulary, and try rhyming games to support sound awareness.
Use repetition. Babies often need to hear a word over 50 times before learning it, so repeating words in context really helps.

Emma also reassures parents that progress looks different for every child.

“If they attempt to communicate through gestures, babbling or pointing, respond warmly and model the correct words without pressure to repeat. Celebrate every attempt, no matter how small, to foster their confidence in communication.”

In a world full of screens and distractions, finding moments to talk, read and play with words may feel small, but for children’s confidence, connection and mental wellbeing, those moments can be more powerful than you've ever realised.

Authors

journalist and two young kids sat on a bench in France for a review of Eurocamp

Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!