ECE 31 & 131 - Language Development in Infancy

10/10/18

García ~ Fall 2018 1

The development of communication and language from birth to age three

Early infancy a critical period for language development

1. What is the developmental sequence of language development?

2.How do we acquire language?

3.How do we best foster language development in early infancy?

Developmental sequence

What is the developmental sequence of language development?

• Indicate age of child you observed. List examples of productive verbal and non-verbal communication from data collected during your observations.

• Review all examples at each table.• Analyze data according to what textbook indicates

in terms of the developmental sequence of language development.

The power of languageØ Naming = controlØ Mental representationØ FlexibilityØ Time and spaceØ Past, present and futureØ A world of possibilities

Why is language acquisition so important?

“…the key to early learning is talking —specifically, a child’s exposure to language spoken by parents and caretakers from birth to age 3, the more the better.”

http://www.gsa.gov/graphics/pbs/The_Early_Catastrophe_30_Million_Word_Gap_by_Age_3.pdf

Neurologically, infancy is a critical period because cortical brain development is influenced

by the amount of central nervous system activity

stimulated by experience.

Source:http://www.gsa.gov/graphics/pbs/The_Early_Catastrophe_30_Million_Word_Gap_by

_Age_3.pdf

“By the time children are 3 years old, trends in amount of talk, vocabulary growth, and style of interaction are well

established”.

• “Behaviorally, infancy is a unique time … when nearly all of children’s experience is mediated by adults in one-to-one interactions permeated with affect.

• Once children become independent and can speak for themselves, they gain access to more opportunities for experience.

• But the amount and diversity of children’s past experience influences which new opportunities for experience they notice and choose.”

ECE 31 & 131 - Language Development in Infancy

10/10/18

García ~ Fall 2018 2

Interdependence between language, cognition and social relationships.

Language “is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather is intrinsically related to cognitive and social-emotional development… There is a direct connection between language and cognition, and between language and social relationships and self-concept.”

Elizabeth Beniers

Language inextricably linked to other developmental areas

Language is key for higher-level thinking capabilities.

• Focused attention • Memory • Classification• Planning • Problem-solving• Self-reflection

The promise and potential of a child’s intelligence is determined by what happens in the period from birth to age three.

Language skills expand and enhance thought processes leading to more

complex thinking and ideas.

How do we best foster language development in early infancy? ØLanguage

development depends upon solid, positive emotional relationships.

ØThe development of attachment is a requirement for successful language development.

ECE 31 & 131 - Language Development in Infancy

10/10/18

García ~ Fall 2018 3

ØA language-rich environment

ØParent-talk: child-directed speech

ØTune-in, talk more, take turns*

* Thirty Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain by Dana Suskind, MD.

A consistent, loving and responsive primary caregiver (parent) is essential.

VygotskySymbolic play

anddramatic or

sociodramatic play offer the ideal context for cognitive, language and

social development.

VygotskyPlay offers an ideal zone of proximal development (ZPD)Child moves toward higher levels of• Self regulation• Social skills• Cognitive

advances

•Now I know that… •Now I also know some ways to support language development during the first three years. These include:

Five-minute write.