Your Personal Research Journey

Originally, when I responded to the Discussion Board assignment I stated that my early childhood topic interest was in learning more about job opportunities working in the early childhood field and how to better advocate for young children. Although I am still interested in learning more about those topics, I believe the more specific topic I am interested in researching in regard to early childhood development is language development. I believe three subtopics that are of interest to me in relation to this topic are how a child learning sign language as a young infant effects their language development, the benefits of speaking motherese to a young infant effect their language development and whether or not an early exposure to music effects language development in any way. 

I would like to research and learn more about how a young infant learning sign language effects their verbal language development because of my personal experiences with this topic. I currently work as a private nanny. The little boy I nanny for is now two years old. I worked on sign language with him quite a bit and he picked it up fairly quickly. His verbal language has developed the same way. I am curious to see if there is any research that has been conducted about any sort of correlation regarding learning signing language and verbal language. On a personal level I have a young nephew who also learned sign language he is eighteen months old and is just learning to use oral language I am interested to see how his oral language continues to develop. 

The benefits associated with speaking motherese (the simplified and repetitive type of speech, with exaggerated intonation and rhythm, often used by adults when speaking to babies) to a young infant and the effect it can have on the child’s language development is also a topic I am interested in researching. In my personal life interacting with young infants, as well as my professional work in an infant classes at a child care center, I have used motherese when speaking to the young infants. The little bit I do know about speaking motherese to young infants is helpful, but I am curious to learn more about it and to gain a better understanding of the benefits of it and when it is appropriate and not appropriate to use with infants.

The third and final subtopic I am interested in researching more about is whether or not an early exposure to music effects language development. I am interested in this because personally I know that music helps children learn other things. In my professional work I am being trained to teach music classes for a company called Music Together. This has spurred my curiosity and interest to learn more about whether or not music can effect a child’s oral language development.

 

Above is a picture of the little boy I nanny for and myself. I think I am most curious to research and learn more about language development because of my personal experience with it and the effect I have seen of these things I would like to research have on young children including the child I have taken care of.