The Progression of Language Development - Social interaction is critical to what happens when concerning language development.
- Interactions, the opportunity to imitate, and the maturation of innate abilities, combine to move language forward.
- Receptive Language (0 to one year) is the time in which infants take in, organize, and understand experience.
- Expressive Language (end of the first year to beginning of first words) is the time in which young children refine and send more specialized sounds and words.
What Language Allows a Child to Do: The Cognitive Link - Label experiences, indicate object permanence, enter into a symbolic realm.
- Reason and develop the ability to order experiences, expand adaptation and coping skills.
The Brain and Early Language Development - Language development is dependent on early neural connections (synapses), which become more permanent pathways as frequently heard sounds are "mapped" in the brain.
- Two events that are critical to brain development (and to language development) happen in the first two years—myelinization and attachment.
Fostering Language Development - Guidelines for language growth focus on interactions with young children, not at them.
- Interesting, relevant experiences give young children a variety of things to listen to and talk about.
Early Literacy - Young children learn early literacy skills much the same way they acquire language skills—all developmental areas work together in a meaningful, relationship-oriented context.
- Guides related to early literacy revolve around sensory-rich experience in which young children see adults engaged with and sharing language and print.
Cultural Differences and Bilingualism - Bilingualism exists when a child has been exposed to and has learned two languages right from birth.
- Establishing a "language relationship" requires sensitivity, understanding, and respect; quality verbal communication in caregiving is the goal.
Children with Special Needs: Communication Disorders - Communication disorders tend to occur in two major areas—language production and speech patterns.
- Early intervention programs usually involve helping adults create play experiences for young children with lots of opportunities for appropriate verbalizations and vocal practice.
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