Status and Determinants of Early Childhood Language Development in Poverty Areas in Western China

doi:10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2019.03.004

Abstract

Abstract:

Language acquisition is a key component of early childhood development (ECD) during the first three years of a child's life, when most brain development occurs. Speech and language development are good indicators of overall cognitive development, academic performance, education level, work performance and physical, mental health, and non-cognitive ability in the future. The current study selected a sample of children in impoverished areas of Northwest China and used the Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development Ⅲ to measure the level of early childhood language development. It also examined the relevance of other language scales to the Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development Ⅲ in order to find a cost-effective scale to measure early childhood language development. The early language development delay risks were common among 6-36 months sample children, and 57% of the sample infants had language development delay. Moreover, there was a significant gap between the rural and urban area. Gender, premature birth, economic conditions and Hukou type were the risk factors which were related to early childhood language development. Besides, parenting knowledge and parenting behavior were significantly positively correlated with early childhood language development.We also found that both Putonghua Communicative Development Inventory-Short Form and Age & stage Questionnaires-3 (communication) had significantly positive correlations with Bayley-Ⅲ language domain.

Key words: poverty areas, children, early language development, parenting knowledge, parenting behavior

Wang Boya Li Shanshan Yue Ai LI Ying Shi Yaojiang. Status and Determinants of Early Childhood Language Development in Poverty Areas in Western China[J]. Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa, 2019, 37(3): 47-57.

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