Page 10 - LESSION 7.pmd

Domains of Development

2. Fill in the blanks.

(a) Cognitive development has been divided into four stages, namely
Notes
.................................,...........................................,............................,
................................................and................................................ .

(b) The ability to understand that even when outer appearance changes,
physical properties remain the same is called .............................. .

(c) I am thinking and I know everyone is thinking the same thing, refers to
.............................. .

(d) Imitating someone in their absence is termed as .............................. .

(e) Deducing the best solution out of every possible solution for a
hypothetically framed problem is known as .............................. .

7.1.5 Language Development, Communication and Emergent Literacy
Language is the ability that separates humans from animals. As humans in society,
we use our language ability continuously to communicate our ideas, share our
feelings, understand each other and build social relationships. Language is an
essential key for thinking, learning and making sense of the world around.
Language also equips us to revisit events in the past and plan for the future. It
also helps us to evaluate our strategies of work and manipulate our own ideas.
Most importantly, language serves as a tool to support cognition and vice-versa.

Language is crucial the development of young children. Language development
goes hand in hand with growth and maturation of the brain. The early years of
life are considered critical periods for language development. From birth up to
the age of six years, children develop language at a very rapid pace. Any
stimulation given at this age for language development significantly impacts
children. Ordinarily, language development takes place in all human beings but
the age and the pace at which children reach each milestone varies. In general,
girls develop language at a faster rate than boys, although both achieve the same
language complexities later. Language occurs both receptively and expressively
through listening, speaking, reading and writing.

7.1.5.1 Development of language

Soon after birth, infants begin communication by laughing, crying and making
vowel-like cooing sounds. They also communicate through gestures and try to
communicate their comfort and discomfort. By about four months of age, the
nature of these sounds change and infants begin to manipulate their vocal
apparatus during vocal play. Starting around six or seven months of age, cooing
develops into real language like sounds called babbling (e.g. baba, mama etc).

98 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION