Connecting through Talk: Nurturing Children's Development with Language

How do responsive adult-child interactions influence early language development? How do a child's language skills develop in tandem with social-emotional development, executive function, and literacy? What are effective ways to help parents support their child's development? Uncover the answers to these questions in this fascinating book, which draws on current research to examine connections between language, social-emotional, and literacy development and profiles effective programs that support this development. You'll begin with a research-based examination of multiple facets of early childhood development and examine how each one is linked to language development. Explore critical topics such as: (1) How the brain develops in the first years of life; (2) Why parent-child attachment is fundamental to early development; (3) How executive function skills affect academic achievement and social success; (4) What responsive and language-rich parent-child exchanges look like and how they support multiple developmental areas; (5) How children begin to understand symbols, establish joint attention, and develop a theory of mind; (6) How children learn the building blocks of language and literacy, from phonology to pragmatics; (7) What role socioeconomic factors play in early development and intervention; (8) Which guiding principles professionals should follow for effective intervention; and (9) Which economic arguments support early development. Building on this foundational knowledge, the book gives you snapshots of more than a dozen programs that support language and literacy development by coaching parents and providing books for young children. You'll learn how these programs promote thoughtful, responsive adult-child interactions and expand children's access to books, and you'll get brief summaries of the research that demonstrates the success of each program. Essential reading for researchers, administrators, and educators, this synthesis of science and practical guidance will help you foster foundational language skills and nurture the healthy development of every young child.