A longitudinal study of the relationship between early language development and play development

Abstract

Temporal correspondences between the attainment of specific milestones in play and language were examined through a longitudinal study of four Japanese children (aged o;7 to o ; n at the beginning of the study). There were developmental correspondences between the onset of six language landmarks (the emergence of first words, naming words, vocabulary spurts, word-chains, nonproductive two-word utterances, productive two-word utterances) and the onset of subcategories of play. Language and play both reflected the development of underlying symbolic ability, and both developed in a parallel manner at the singleword stage. After the emergence of word-chains, language and play developed interdependently. All the children proceeded through the same sequence of stages, but the rate of development was different depending on their environment.

Language and Symbolic Play in Toddlers

“…Kelly and Dale (1989) found that children not yet using words also failed to show symbolic play, whereas single-word speakers exhibited presymbolic play schemes and self-and other-pretend activities. Similarly, longitudinal studies of Ogura (1991) and Veneziano (1981) revealed temporal relations between symbolic play and early language development. McCune's (1995) analyses of a cross-sectional sample between 8 and 24 months of age indicated, in line with her earlier ndings (McCune-Nicolich & Bruskin, 1982;Nicolich, 1977), that children who made speci c representational transitions in play were more likely to show achievement of language milestones.…”

Pretend play and maternal scaffolding:Comparisons of toddlers with advanced development, typical development, and hearing impairment

“…i esearch has consistently shown relations between pretend play and cognitive development as well as between pretend play and language development in the second and third years of life (Fein, 1981;Nicolich, 1977;Ogura, 1991). In children with typical development, pretend play emerges early in the second year of life.…”

“…In children with typical development, pretend play emerges early in the second year of life. Researchers have documented and provided detailed descriptions of the evolution of pretend play in children to about 30 months of age (Nicolich; Ogura;Westby, 1995). Studies have identified a typical order of progression of pretend play, while tracking parallel developments in the domains of language and cognition.…”

Development of the Parent Form of the Preschool Children’s Communication Skills Scale and Comparison of the Communication Skills of Children with Normal Development and with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Kelly and Dale (1989) indicated that children who cannot use words fail at symbolic games. Likewise, other researchers have claimed that symbolic games are related to children's language development (Aydın, 2008;Leila, 2006;McCune, 1995;Ogura, 1991;Veneziano, 1981). When children turn 3, they start to understand the causal relationship between wants and emotions.…”