Reading Starts with Talking – And We’re Not Talking Enough

We think of reading as something that happens on paper. But it actually starts long before a child picks up a book. Language begins with listening and speaking—and the sad truth is, we’re doing less and less of it with our children.

According to a 2023 study by Stellenbosch University, South African children engage in just 6–10 minutes of focused conversation with adults daily. That’s not nearly enough. In their early years, children develop phonological awareness, sentence structure, and vocabulary by hearing language in action—not from screens.

Here’s how you can help:

• Talk during everyday tasks. In the car, at dinner, while grocery shopping.

• Ask open-ended questions. Instead of “Was school okay?”, try “What was the most interesting thing you learned today?”

• Keep reading aloud, even if they can read. It models natural phrasing and expression.

• Limit screen time. Screens are silent. Conversations aren’t.

The more language a child hears, the easier it becomes to recognise sounds, build sentences, and eventually read with comprehension.

Talking is free. But the value is life-changing.