Feel silly having a conversation with a baby that can’t talk? Don’t, because those one-sided conversations about farm animals and the colors of the rainbow are actually vital to your kids as they grow. A new study has found that how much parents talk with babies can have an impact on their IQ later in life.

A 10-year longitudinal study by the national nonprofit LENA found that children who experience more conversation as toddlers have better language skills and higher IQ as teenagers.

“This research confirms a growing body of science that says adult-child interactive talk is essential to early development and success in school,” president Steve Hannon said.