ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the language and literacy development of infants and toddlers. First, language as the communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of signals is explained, specifically focusing on how children use language to facilitate conversations with others, clarify needs, gather information, label their experiences, develop reasoning skills, increase their adaptation and coping skills and express what they know. Then, the concept of literacy as the ability to listen and speak, and then eventually read and write is explained, with a strong emphasis on oral language development as the cornerstone of literacy development. Emphasis is placed on the value of social experiences and interactions to foster skill development in these two areas and lead to children to continuously acquire language and literacy skills. Children’s language and literacy development begins at birth through play, exploration and interactions with others, and appropriate caregiver strategies to promote these valuable experiences are described.
