ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a broad overview of language development. It presents a range of ways of supporting language development. The chapter discusses links with language and literacy at home. It examines ways of developing literacy through play and creativity. The chapter supports early reading development. It also supports children's early attempts at writing. It summarises the main theories that have been advanced to explain language development. Traditional learning theorists invoke the principle of reinforcement to explain language development. The development of language is one of the most remarkable developmental achievements that human beings make. Language is a tool for thinking as well as being vital for communication. The development of communication and language skills happens during an optimum window of brain development and is experience expectant, whereas the acquisition of literacy skills is experience dependent since it can occur at any point in childhood or in adulthood.
