Sociology Pres. #1 Flashcards
The article references research studies that found children from affluent families hear millions of more words than do children from low SES families do
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I found an article on the topic of child directed speech, which is when a child is spoken to directly, and how important it is for human development, especially during infancy and toddlerhood.
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Academically speaking, the children from low SES families are lagging about 2 school years behind the children from affluent families. This is a big gap, and Obviously this is a major disadvantage for those children, especially because our educational system is structured around a one size fits all policy.
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The article continues that this word gap is detectable by 18 months of age, which is much younger than science once thought.
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The article specifies that it is the rich, varied, and complex language, that uses good grammar that will fundamentally lay the ground work in the cultivation of our children’s literacy skills.
For instance, they suggest turning a simple sentence such as ‘this is an apple,’ into a sentence like ‘this ruby red apple has a smooth texture compared to this hairy kiwi.’
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I guess I chose this topic because I feel passionate about every child having the very best start in life. I love that our brains are plastic and they change over time with new experiences. The fact that we can each promote the development and potentiality of another individual is completely fascinating and heart warming. As social beings, this completely illustrates the importance of the human connection.
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Child directed speech influences all aspects of human development. Physically, the blooming and pruning process between neural synapses during the first three years, demonstrates that our brains are hard wired to acquire knowledge. Early child directed speech strengthens the growth between these connections and allows for the continuation of advancement.
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According to Piagets cognitive theory, language processing and development is a direct reflection of the words spoken by care providers. This cognitive development then in turn is essential to all areas of literacy, including reading, writing, speaking, listening and thinking.
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Relative to Eriksons psychosocial model, infants and toddlers are faced with the challenges of trust vs. mistrust and autonomy vs. shame and doubt. Child directed speech promotes a sense of trust and independence in children by showing them you are reliable, caring, and affectionate. You can use speech to offer praise, encouragement and stimulation which helps to promote a child’s confidence, internal control and mastery of skill for example
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The implications of child directed speech on human development is huge. The use of a complex language system is what has advanced our species and ensured our survival. Imagine what we can accomplish now with a clearer understanding about the use of language and the capacity of the early human brain. So the next time you see a baby, what will you say?
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