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Language Development

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...

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Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

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Do home visiting programmes improve children's language development? A systematic review.

Tom Henwood¹, Sue Channon¹, Helen Penny¹

¹Cardiff University, Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

|June 26, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Home visiting programs can improve child language development, especially when started prenatally. However, not all programs show positive results or consistently measure impact.

Keywords:

Child Home visits Infant, high risk Language Socioeconomic factors Speech Systematic review

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Area of Science:

Child Development
Public Health
Early Intervention

Background:

Home visiting programs offer support to vulnerable pregnant women and new mothers.
These programs aim to improve various child and maternal outcomes.
Child language development is a key area of focus for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review the effectiveness of home visiting programs on young children's language development.
To identify factors influencing program success in improving language outcomes.

Main Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four databases (Embase, Emcare, Psycinfo, Medline) from 1990-2020.
Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, with risk of bias assessed and data extracted.
An adapted Cochrane template was used for data extraction to enable program comparisons.

Main Results:

Six of the eleven reviewed home visiting programs reported positive language outcomes for children.
Effect sizes were generally small where statistical data was provided.
Nine different language measures were used, hindering cross-program comparisons; prenatal initiation showed promise.

Conclusions:

Home visiting programs have the potential to positively impact child language development, particularly for socially disadvantaged families.
Program effectiveness varies, with not all achieving positive language outcomes or consistently measuring impact.
Prenatal initiation of home visits may enhance language development; further research is recommended.