Source:  https://fuzzyscience.wikispaces.com/Babbling  

       

EARLY  CHILDHOOD  LANGUAGE  DEVELPMENT  AND  LEARNING  

EXPERIENCES    

Arantxa  Dominguez  Acevedo  

Assignment  3  

CHLD  1  Child  Development  &  Growth:  Prenatal  to  Early  Childhood  

 Professor:  Bharti  Dave       Date:  02/14/2016  

1.  Introduction.  

Language  is  a  complex  form  of  communication  that  has  been  used  since  60,000  

to  100,000  years  [f].  Language  is  flexible  and  can  change  and  develop  through  time.  It  

seems   that   humans   are   the   only   animals   that   produce   language,   not   only  

communication.  The  communication  in  humans  starts  from  birth  and  develops  in  word  

production  when  the  children  turn  1  year.  This  is  the  time  the  children  pronounce  the  

first  word.  Researches  have   talked  about  stages  of  acquisition  of   the   language   [h].   It  

starts   from  birth  with  crying  and  eye  contact.  Then   it  appears   the  prelingüistic   stage  

with  bubbling  and  vocalization  as  a  play.  Around  1  year  old,  the  baby  makes  the  first  

word  with   the   intention   of   tagging   something.   At   this   point   it   starts   the   telegraphic  

stage   of   the   language   and   the   spoken   language   grows   exponentially.   Around   24  

months  children  start  using  short  and  clear  sentences  to  more  complex  sentences  [b].  

By  5  years  old,  the  children  are  competent  in  their  native  language.    

  Some   theories   try   to   explain   the   learning   process   of   a   language   [h].   Nativist  

Theories   -­‐with  Noam  Chomsky  as   the  most   representative   theorist-­‐,  have  postulated  

that   humans   are   ready   for   language   since   birth.   Babies   are   ready   to   acquire   and  

develop   any   language.   Furthermore   they   have   created   the   concept   of   language  

acquisition   device   (LAD)   locate   somewhere   in   the   brain,   to   explain   the   readiness   of  

humans   since   birth.   On   the   other   hand,   Social   Theories   -­‐with   Bandura   as   the  most  

representative  theorist-­‐,  have  proposed  that  children  learn  language  through  imitation  

of   sounds   and   words.   But   this   theory   has   been   disproved   because   if   children   just  

imitate,  how  can  humans  create  new  songs  and  poems?  The  most  accurate  theory   is  

the   Interactionist   Theories.   From   this   point   of   view,   children   need   to   interact   with  

other   in   order   to   learn   language   and   communication   rules.   They   need   to   practice,  

speak  and  be  spoken,  in  order  to  learn  and  develop  language.    

Because   I   believe   that   language   is   one   of   the  most   important   capabilities   in  

humans,   I   am   going   to   write   about   the   early   language   development   in   children.  

Furthermore,   it   is   proved   that   interaction   with   speakers   can   trigger   the   language  

development;   I  will  also  suggest  some   learning  experiences  that  will  help  to   improve  

language  development  of  our  children.    

 

 

2.  Research.  

Through   the   decades,   several   studies   have   been   done   and   researchers   have  

foreseen   the   stages   of   language   development.   Furthermore,   researchers   have  

summarized   the   findings   in   milestone   charts.   An   example   is   the   next   image   that  

summarizes  the  stages  of  language  development  on  children  between  0  to  5  years  old.      

 

 

Language  development.  Source:  http://www.ican.org.uk/  

Even   if   the   purpose   of   this   article   is   not   addressing   concerning   signs,   I   will  

include   some   notes   about   this   matter.   Some   researchers   have   identified   some   red  

flags  signs  of  development  [b].  Specifically:    

• Does  not  smile  by  four  months  of  age.  

• Does  not  babble,  point,  or  make  meaningful  gestures  by  12  months  of  age.  

• Does  not  verbally  imitate  the  names  of  familiar  objects  by  18  months  of  age.  

• Does  not  use  three-­‐word  phrases  by  age  three.  

As   suggested   in   the  book   “Einstein  never  used   flash   cards”:   “What’s   the  best  

way  to  master   language?  Years  of   research  provide  the  answer:   it’s  not  with  drills  or  

computer  programs,   but  with  daily   conversation   that  gives   the   child  motivation  and  

allows  time  to  respond”  [a].  That  statement  correlates  with  the   interactionist  theory.  

Parents  have  the  opportunity  to  be  an  active  factor  in  the  language  construction  of  our  

children.  Additionally,  knowing  that,  we  should  give  learning  experiences  to  stimulate  

our  children  to  develop  through  all  the  stages.  I  will  suggest  some  learning  experiences  

in  following  sections  of  this  article.  

 

3.  Impact.  

The   early   language   development   has   its   foundations   both   in   biological   and  

environmental  influences.    

 Broca’s  and  Wernicke’s  areas.  Source:  http://science-­‐junkie.tumblr.com/post/78872975331/language-­‐

and-­‐the-­‐brain-­‐of-­‐mr-­‐tan-­‐the-­‐year-­‐was    

Researchers  have   identified   two   regions   in   the  brain   that   are   correlated  with  

language  skills  [e],  one  is  Broca’s  area  that  is  involved  in  the  production  of  words  and  

sounds.   On   the   other   hand,  Wernicke’s   area   is   involved   in   the   comprehension   of  

language.   The   brain   regions   have   to   be   ready   to   produce   language,   furthermore,  

damages   in   these   regions   correlate   with   aphasias   and   other   incapacities   with   the  

production  and  comprehension  of  language.  

Equally  important,  the  environment  plays  a  significant  role  in  the  development  

of   language.   Social   interaction   is   crucial   in   the  acquisition  of   language.   Some  studies  

have  corroborated  the  importance  of  the  parents  as  scaffolding  providers.  Scaffolding  

refers   to   a   variety   of   instructional   techniques   used   to   move   students   progressively  

toward  stronger  understanding  and,  ultimately,  greater   independence   in   the   learning  

process [i].  The  concept  of  zone  of  proximal  development  (ZPD)  is  also  very  important:  

it   refers   to   the   zone   of   the   children   development   that   is   difficult   to   achieve   alone,  

without   the   help   and   guidance   of   an   adult   [e].   These   two   concepts   are   decisive   to  

understand  how  the  interaction  and  speaking  time  with  our  children  can  improve  the  

language  development.    

A  real  example  of  this  is  the  Project  Muse,  performed  by  Craig  T.  and  Sharon  L.  

Ramey  in  1970.  The  ‘Abecedarium’  study  involved  111  children  of  North  Carolina  with  

challenging   factors   as   low   income,   low   levels   of   maternal   education,   low   levels   of  

maternal   intelligence   and   high   levels   of   unemployment.   They   provided   high-­‐quality  

early   childhood   education   during   the   first   5   years   of   the   children’s   live   and   also  

supportive   help   such   an   unlimited   formula,   social   services   and   medical   assistance.  

They   found   that   “we   can   positively   alter   the   development   of   young,   disadvantaged  

children  through  the  systematic  provision  of  early  childhood  education  [d]”.  As  we  can  

see   in   the  next   table,   treated   children  were   significantly   and  positively  developed   in  

vocabulary  and  receptive  language,  among  other  things.    

 

 Outcomes  affected  positively  by  the  Abecedarium  program.  Source:  [d].  

 

 

As   we   have   seen,   many   studies   have   been   done   through   the   decades,   and  

researchers   have   identified   the   stages   of   language   development.   Furthermore,  

researchers   have   assessed   the   importance   of   speaking   and   interacting   with   our  

children.   Knowing   that,   we   should   elaborate   learning   experiences   to   stimulate   our  

children   through   all   the   stages.   In   the   next   section,   let’s   talk   about   learning  

experiences.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Solution.  

As   parents,   we   should   ask   ourselves   what   could   we   do   to   enhance   the  

development  of  language  in  our  children.  Fortunately,  there  are  several  things  that  we  

can   do.   The  most   important   is   speaking   to   them.   Researchers   have   found   that   the  

level  of  mothers’  speech   is  correlated  with  the  amount  of  vocabulary  that  a  children  

produce  [d].  Next  picture  is  the  graphical  explanation.  The  more  the  mother  talks,  the  

richer  children’s  vocabulary  is.  

 Effects  of  mothers’  speech  on  infants  vocabulary.  Source:  [d].  

 

Researches  have  defined  the  way  we  talk  with  infants  as  a  ‘parentese’.  It  refers  

to  the  kind  of  speech  that  parents,  even  adults,  produce  when  speaking  with  children.  

It  characterizes  of  slightly  higher  than  normal  pitch,  exaggerated  vowel  sounds,  short  

and   simple   sentences,   repetition   exaggerated   stress,   and   pauses   between   sentences  

[b].  Either  way,  every   time  we  talk  with  our  children  we  are  helping   them  to  master  

language.   Furthermore,   studies   have   suggested   that   baby   sign   is   a  word  booster   for  

speaking  language  because  baby  sign  is  an  interesting  way  to  introduce  new  words  [a].  

Storytelling   and   reading   books   are   also   good   activities   to   interact   and   use  

language.   During   infancy,   reading   books   and   storytelling   also   sets   the   foundation   to  

early   literacy   because   it   teaches   behaviors   like   book   handling,   turning   the   pages,  

recognizing  pictures   and   letters   and  much  more   [g].  Around  5   years  old,   storytelling  

enhances  the  production  of  language  too.  Studies  have  pointed  out  the  importance  of  

storytelling   using   the   “circle   of   storytelling”   [c].   As  we   can   see   in   the   next   diagram,  

when  the  teacher  tells  a  story,  the  children  improve  language  skills  in  several  ways.  

Circle  of  storytelling.  Source:  [c].  

 

There  are  other  things  that  we  can  do  to  encourage  speech  and  language  

development.  Here  is  a  list  of  tips  for  infants:  

• Be  a  good  model  for  your  child.    

• Talk  to  your  baby  as  often  as  you  can.    

• Talk  to  your  baby  with  different  intonations  and  voices.    

• When  the  baby  is  babbling,  respond  to  him  using  similar  sounds.    

• Reinforce  them  with  speech,  smiles  and  eye  contact.    

• Imitate  your  baby  facial  and  sound  expressions.    

• Teach  your  baby  non-­‐verbal  communication  as  clapping,  peek-­‐a-­‐boo,  throwing  

kisses,  and  other  hand  games.    

• Count  items  and  identify  colors.    

• Use  expressions  and  move  your  hands  while  you  talk.    

• Name  objects  and  expand  sentences  with  the  characteristics  of  the  object  such  

as  car,  red  car,  and  big  red  car.    

• Read  to  your  baby  while  your  baby  is  in  your  lap.    

• Draw  to  your  baby.  Let  him  experience  with  paint  too.    

• Allow  baby  touch  books  and  play  with  them.    

• Make  a  daily  routine  of  reading  and  storytelling.    

• Narrate  everything  you  are  doing  with  the  baby.    

• Give  words  to  his  actions.  Comment  while  he  plays  or  does.    

• Sing  songs  and  rhymes.  

 

 

5.  Conclusions.  

In  my  opinion  language  is  one  of  the  most  important  skills  of  human  beings.  We  

should   give   our   children   significant   experiences   and   stimulation   to   enhance   their  

language   development.   Through   the   preparation   of   this   article,   I   have   learnt   how  

important   is   the   stimulation   and   interaction   with   the   spoken   language.   Social  

interaction  gives  our  children  the  opportunity  to  learn  how  the  communication  works.  

Social   interactions   also   help   children   on   turn   speaking   skills   and   effective  

communication.  The  good  news  is  that  we  can  help  our  children  just  speaking  to  them  

and   spending   time   with   them.   Giving   infants   the   exposure   to   language   encourage  

them  to  further  development.    

 

6.  References.    [a]  Hirsh-­‐Pasek,  K.,  Golinkoff,  R.  M.,  &  Eyer,  D.  (2004).  Einstein  never  used  flash  cards:  How  our  children  

[b]  Illinois  Early  Learning  Guidelines:  For  Children  Birth  to  Age  Three.  http://illinoisearlylearning.org/guidelines/    [c]  Isbell,  R.  T.  (2002).  Telling  and  Retelling  Stories:  Learning  Language  and  Literacy.  Supporting  Language  Learning.  Young  Children,  57(2),  26-­‐30.    [d]  Ramey,  S.  L.,  &  Ramey,  C.  T.  (2004).  Early  learning  and  school  readiness:  Can  early  intervention  make  a  difference?.  Merrill-­‐Palmer  Quarterly,  50(4),  471-­‐491.  http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.455.1927&rep=rep1&type=pdf    [e]  Santrock,  John  W.  Children.  Madison,  WI:  Brown  &  Benchmark,  2014.  Print.      

6.1  Websites    [f]  Language  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language#Origin    [g]  Early  literacy.  http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_brain    [h]Enhancing  the  Language  Development  of  Young  Children.  http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=119    Speech  and  language  milestones  birth  to  5.  http://info.nspt4kids.com/speech-­‐and-­‐language-­‐milestones-­‐infographic-­‐?&t=6630    [i]  Scaffolding.  http://edglossary.org/scaffolding/    Activities  to  Encourage  Speech  and  Language  Development.  http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Parent-­‐Stim-­‐Activities.htm    Activities  to  develop  Speech  and  Language  Skills.  http://www.icommunicatetherapy.com/child-­‐speech-­‐language/child-­‐speech-­‐language-­‐development/activities-­‐strategies-­‐help-­‐develop-­‐speech-­‐language-­‐skills/