We want every child to
have the best start in life
We all want the children around us to have every possible chance to thrive – to grow up healthy, to reach their potential and follow their dreams.
And we all remember things adults said to us when we were children ourselves. Warm, caring words that build us up, or cruel, demeaning words that knock us down.
Words matter. They stick. They last a lifetime. Their impact shapes who we are and who we become.
Words matter for
children’s development
Words Matter is an ambitious charity on a mission to improve children’s mental and physical health and development by ending verbal abuse of children by adults.
Children’s brains are built in response to the relationships they grow up with, and the tone of sounds and words around them, right from the moment they’re born.
Too many children are growing up without warm, encouraging words and stable, secure relationships – the building blocks all children need to grow and thrive. Verbal abuse in childhood can actively weaken the foundations of our brains and cause us problems later in life.
What we can do
Children need us to step in. We all have a responsibility to help children flourish and protect them from abuse – parents, friends, teachers, any of us who care about children.
Two in five children (41%) experience harmful verbal abuse by adults. It’s often unintentional, but with greater awareness, we can stop it and repair the damage our words can cause. If we know better, we can do better.
Through research and partnerships, raising awareness of the impact, and understanding how to prevent childhood verbal abuse – we can inspire action and change.
All of us, from whatever walk of live, get overloaded sometimes. As well as caring passionately about making life better for children, we’re here for parents, carers and people who work with children. More support can lighten the load for everyone.
Together we can change lives. Help us spread the message that words matter, make a donation and support our work to stop verbal abuse of children.
