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The parents' own education and their attitude toward schooling, their occupational and socioeconomic status, their expectations and ambitions for the child, the degree of intellectual stimulation in the home and neighborhood, the pressure of home duties and remunerative work, all are conditions that influence learning. In general, a combination of favorable factors in the child's home environment are associated with school achievement.

The interaction patterns between parents and bilinguals may be different to those in monolingual families. Cultural background affects attitudes to child rearing practices, home environment and motivation for language learning. Children from linguistic minorities can be subjected to societal and parental pressure to become bilingual if the home language has limited official status.

There are three ways in which adults can help a baby learn the things appropriate for him during his first two years. The first is to establish and maintain the constructive personal relations which have already been emphasized. The second is to provide an environment in which he will find appropriate stimuli at each stage of his growth. During the first six months, the baby's crib, his carriage (for trips), his mother's arms, and a few safe and sanitary toys constitute a sufficiently stimulating environment. The third is to guide him in the use of this environment.