toggle visibility

DR 1: Children are personally and socially competent
⇣ Indicator: LANG—Children show growing abilities in communication and language
⇣ Measure 19: Uses Language in Conversation—
Child engages in increasingly extended conversations following the appropriate social use of language
	Descriptors	Examples
9	Has extended conversations that include discussions of emotions, ideas, and information obtained from the other person	In a conversation, develops a thought or idea using six or more related sentences that have a theme.
8	Maintains conversations about real or imaginary experiences	Maintains a topic of conversation for four or more turns with another in pretend play or when talking about an interesting subject.
7	Uses language appropriately for a variety of purposes	Uses language to: Ask questions: “Where did the doggie go?” Make requests appropriately: “Can I have more milk?” Refuse or decline: “I don’t want to swing.” Tell a simple joke.
6	Engages in simple conversations with adult that involve several related ideas	Talks with adult about a story that is read. Engages in simple conversation while role playing during pretend play.
5	Introduces one or two related ideas in back-and-forth communication with adult	Shows adult teddy bear and says, “My teddy.” When adult asks, “What is your teddy bear’s name?” Answers, “Pooh Bear.” Nods head “yes” when adult asks if he likes pizza, and then says, “More milk.”
4	Engages in back-and-forth naming with adult using familiar single words	Names familiar pictures in a book or familiar objects when adult asks, “What’s that?” Names peers or familiar adults when adult asks, “Who’s that?”
3	Engages in back-and-forth communication with adult using vocalizations, gestures, or facial expressions	Makes sounds in response to adult talking and then waits for adult to respond. or Moves in response to adult’s gestures and then waits for adult to respond. Engages in turn-taking games with adult such as Peek-a-Boo.
2	Responds to adult’s voice or facial expressions during interaction	Smiles back when adult smiles. Quiets or stops movements when adult begins talking or making facial or gestural movements; makes sounds or moves when adult stops.
1	Reacts to sounds or gestures	Looks or orients in direction of voices or gestures. Coos or gurgles in response to sound.

Measure 19 — LANG 4

Uses Language in Conversation

Child engages in increasingly extended conversations following the appropriate social use of language

In addition to learning how to get meaning from language and how to produce language, children learn how to use language in conversation, in various social situations, and for a variety of purposes. As children develop, they are increasingly able to tailor their communication to the information they just gained from the person they are talking with (communication partner), thus taking the perspective of that person into consideration. As they learn to tailor their conversations, children begin to carry on interactive conversations with one another.

Newborn infants react to the sounds and gestures produced by an adult by orienting or perhaps looking. Soon, infants learn to respond to adults during interaction and may smile and maintain a gaze at the adult as the adult talks. Eventually, infants engage in back-and-forth communication by cooing or making movements or gestures with the adult and engaging in turn-taking games, such as peek-a-boo.

Toddlers continue to use turn-taking in communication by engaging in turn-taking naming routines, such as naming pictures in books. In addition, toddlers answer simple questions with single-word utterances. One aspect of carrying on a conversation is learning how to initiate a conversation. Toddlers become rather accomplished at introducing one or two new ideas, but they have difficulty keeping the conversation going by making relevant responses to their communication partner’s comments. However, this skill improves over time.

Young preschoolers can engage in connected conversations with adults that involve several related ideas. The improved ability to maintain a topic of conversation means that fewer new topics are being introduced during an interaction. In addition, young preschoolers are improving their abilities to use language appropriately for a variety of purposes, such as making a request, declining an offer, and even telling a simple joke.

Older preschoolers are able to carry on conversations about either real or imaginary experiences for an increasing number of turns, depending on the topic and who they are talking to. In addition, older preschoolers are more able to base their comments during their conversations on the information contributed by the communication partner, thus demonstrating their awareness of the perspective of the partner.

toggle visibility

toggle visibility