ABSTRACT
The brain develops at an astonishing rate during the early childhood years, a process that is often taken for granted as children demonstrate increasingly refined and/or complex physical, cognitive, linguistic, and emotional behaviors between birth and 8 years. Chapter 3 discusses the theories of nature and nurture in the context of understanding the impact of nurture during the early childhood years. This chapter will offer a basic historical perspective of the contributions of Brown, Piaget, Chomsky, and Vygotsky. The purpose of the historical perspective, found within this chapter, is to provide a starting point for our discussion of the research and theoretical foundations supporting the study of language and speech acquisition and development. I find great value in reviewing and understanding the research and underlying theoretical constructs of language and speech development to support identification and implementation of key strategies for building optimal communication environments and supporting children experiencing communication breakdowns.
