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Dianaa12345 After reading over the material, I now have a better understanding…After reading over the material, I now have a better understanding how children learn to speak. One of the key takeaways from these sources is the critical role of interactive and meaningful language interactions between caregivers and children in the language acquisition process. Language acquisition is not merely about the quantity of words heard by children but, more importantly, about the quality of the interactions. The concept of “child-directed speech” stood out, referring to speech that is adapted and tailored to a child’s developmental stage. This kind of speech includes simpler sentence structures, higher pitch, and exaggerated intonation, all of which help children in processing and understanding language more effectively. I was taken aback by how profoundly language influences different aspects of a child’s life, such as their cognitive growth, readiness for school, and social abilities. The article discussing the 30-million-word gap shed light on how socioeconomic disparities can lead to differences in language exposure, ultimately affecting children’s linguistic and academic achievements. This highlighted the long-lasting consequences of early language experiences on a child’s future. The focus on how language learning involves understanding social interactions really caught my attention. It was fascinating to discover that kids find it harder to grasp what’s being said when they’re just overhearing conversations because they have to guess what others are interested in or trying to say. In contrast, when adults speak directly to children, it’s much easier for kids because the conversation revolves around what the child is interested in. This highlights how vital it is to talk to children about things they care about and pay attention to.From what I’ve learned about how kids learn language, I support the idea of using “baby talk” or talking directly to children. Even though it might sound simple or exaggerated at first, it’s actually really important for helping kids learn language. For example, when you say things like “Wow, look at the adorable bunny!” or “You’re thirsty, aren’t you? You want your bottle,” while you’re talking to babies, it helps them link words to the things they see and around them. This, in the end, helps them learn more words and understand better. Based on my experience with my daughter, there were times when we used baby talk, and I don’t think it held her back. If anything, I believe it helped her grasp what we were trying to communicate to her more effectively. talking directly to children helps them build social and thinking abilities by encouraging them to focus on the same things and use correct sentence structures. It makes it easier for children to understand and learn language, creating a valuable environment for their development. Therefore, using “baby talk” is not just helpful but necessary for proper language growth.  Please respond to this post? Need to respond back?Arts & HumanitiesEnglish