What role does social interaction play in language development for infants and toddlers?

Social interaction serves as a critical component in language development for infants and toddlers. When young children engage in interactions with caregivers and peers, they are exposed to a variety of sounds, words, and language structures. Through these interactions, children learn to understand and produce language more effectively.

Conversational exchanges, even before a child can speak, allow them to pick up on verbal cues, gestures, and the rhythm of speech. This ongoing dialogue strengthens their ability to associate meaning with words, develop vocabulary, and improve their overall communication skills. Additionally, supportive interactions encourage children to take risks with language, try new words or phrases, and learn through imitation.

This process is essential not only for language acquisition but also for cognitive and social-emotional development, as it fosters connections and promotes their overall sense of security in communication. Therefore, social interaction is indispensable in creating a rich language learning environment for infants and toddlers.