Nursery World - Literacy expert Sue Palmer for the Basic Skills Agency

Forward-facing baby buggies have been called 'conversation killers' in a report by literacy expert Sue Palmer for the Basic Skills Agency (BSA). According to the report, the buggies reduce the amount of communication babies and toddlers have with their parents or carers pushing them and are contributing to declining verbal skills in children. The report, Talk To Me, also blamed the deterioration in verbal skills on modern lifestyles, such as the 'decline of the family meal'. The BSA urged all those working with young children to encourage families to increase time spent in conversation and improve their child's vocabulary. However, Ms Palmer acknowledged that parents were 'wary of schools interfering in their family life and resentful of any suggestion that they don't know what's best for their children'.

According to the report, the buggies reduce the amount of communication babies and toddlers have with their parents or carers pushing them and are contributing to declining verbal skills in children. The report, Talk To Me, also blamed the deterioration in verbal skills on modern lifestyles, such as the 'decline of the family meal'. The BSA urged all those working with young children to encourage families to increase time spent in conversation and improve their child's vocabulary. However, Ms Palmer acknowledged that parents were 'wary of schools interfering in their family life and resentful of any suggestion that they don't know what's best for their children'.

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