Can coaching parents close the word gap for poor kids?

NCT ID NCT02216032

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a home visiting program called Thirty Million Words can help low-income parents talk and interact more with their young children, boosting language development. About 206 families with children aged 13-16 months are taking part. Researchers measure changes in parent-child interaction and child language skills over several years.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
TMW Curriculum (parent coaching program)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that teaching parents to talk more with their young children improves language skills and school readiness.
What could go wrong
This is an observational-style intervention study, not a drug trial. Results may not apply to all families, and long-term benefits are uncertain.

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The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Thirty Million Words® Initiative at the University of Chicago Medicine

    Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States