13 Communication, Language and Literacy Development in the Preschool Years

In the preschool years children become more skilled at communicating with others. They become increasingly aware of the conventions of effective conversations. Research shows that four year olds intentionally adjust their communication to match the listener and the context. (Shatz & Gelman 1983, as cited by Paris, Ricardo, Raymond, & Johnson, 2021). In the study four year olds were asked to explain how a toy worked. The study showed that when explaining how the toy worked to adults, the children used longer sentences and talked more overall than compared to when they were explaining how the toy worked to two year olds. Their explanations to toddlers included simpler grammar and more attention-getting words such as see, look, watch. Children are becoming increasingly aware of the responsibilities of the speaker to pay attention to the listener and if the listener appears to not understand that they as the speaker should address this (Shwe & Markman, 1997, as cited by Paris, Ricardo, Raymond, & Johnson, 2021). This might mean more than simply repeating what they said and they may clarify or provide an example. 

Preschoolers also become better listeners and can discern if a message makes sense and who is better informed about a particular topic (Robinson, Champion & Mitchell, 1999, as cited by Paris, Ricardo, Raymond, & Johnson, 2021).

According to the Ministry of Education (2014), via the Continuum of Development, communication, language and literacy development continues to takes place during the preschool/kindergarten stage of development. The skills demonstrated by infants and toddlers continue to develop as children become skilled communicators using verbal and non-verbal styles of communication to converse with peers and adults. Their expanding vocabulary supports them to describe and make meaning of their experiences and the world around them. They notice environmental print, engage in literacy and become increasingly aware of its power as a human activity. Their phonological awareness increases as they manipulate words, recognize letters and begin to write them.

language milestones

The prior aspects of language development in early childhood can also be summarized into the progression of milestones children typically experience from ages 3 to 5. Here is a table of those. 

Table 13.1: Language Milestones

^{Table 13.1: Language Milestones (Developmental Milestones by the CDC is in the public domain)} 

Theories of Language Development

Humans, especially children, have an amazing ability to learn language. Within the first year of life, children will have learned many of the necessary concepts to have functional language, although it will still take years for their capabilities to develop fully.  Here is a recap of the theorists and theories that have been proposed to explain the development of language, and related brain structures, in children.

Skinner: Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner believed that children learn language through operant conditioning; in other words, children receive “rewards” for using language in a functional manner. For example, a child learns to say the word “drink” when they are thirsty; they receive something to drink, which reinforces the use of the word for getting a drink, and thus they will continue to do so. This follows the four-term contingency that Skinner believed was the basis of language development—motivating operations, discriminative stimuli, response, and reinforcing stimuli. Skinner also suggested that children learn language through imitation of others, prompting, and shaping.

Chomsky: Language Acquisition Device

Noam Chomsky’s work discusses the biological basis for language and claims that children have innate abilities to learn language. Chomsky terms this innate ability the “language acquisition device.” He believes children instinctively learn language without any formal instruction. He also believes children have a natural need to use language, and that in the absence of formal language children will develop a system of communication to meet their needs. He has observed that all children make the same type of language errors, regardless of the language they are taught. Chomsky also believes in the existence of a “universal grammar,” which posits that there are certain grammatical rules all human languages share. However, the research does not identify areas of the brain or a genetic basis that enables humans’ innate ability for language.

Piaget: Assimilation and Accommodation

Jean Piaget’s theory of language development suggests that children use both assimilation and accommodation to learn language. Assimilation is the process of changing one’s environment to place information into an already-existing schema (or idea). Accommodation is the process of changing one’s schema to adapt to the new environment. Piaget believed children need to first develop mentally before language acquisition can occur. According to Piaget, children first create mental structures within the mind (schemas) and from these schemas, language development happens.

Vygotsky: Zone of Proximal Development

Lev Vygotsky’s theory of language development focused on social learning and the zone of proximal development (ZPD). The ZPD is a level of development obtained when children engage in social interactions with others; it is the distance between a child’s potential to learn and the actual learning that takes place. Vygotsky’s theory also demonstrated that Piaget underestimated the importance of social interactions in the development of language.