Pediatric language and cognitive activities help a child to develop and learn language skills, along with enhancing healthy cognitive development. A child learns the most during the first few years of life, therefore, developmental activities are absolutely necessary to have available.
Rehabmart is pleased to carry innovative pediatric language and cognitive activities from superior quality vendors that include Sammons Preston and Enabling Devices.
Free Shipping!What is Language development?
Language development is the process through which a child develops and learns a language throughout infancy and childhood. This typically refers to their first or primary language. There are many theories regarding how children learn and develop language, and each takes a distinctive approach to gaining language. Language development tends to occur over the first 10 years or so of a child’s life and there are diverse aspects that develop at different times. It is often researched and investigated by linguists. Most theories and understanding of the process come from research and observation regarding diverse developmental stages of infants and children.
What Factors Affect Language Development?
Many factors can affect language development in childhood, including lack of proper education and environmental factors. Hearing loss can have a major impact on how a child develops language. A child with a hearing impairment often has difficulty comprehending speech and forming words because the language that is spoken cannot be heard. Emotional or psychological issues may also have a negative effect on language development. The environment a child is raised in can adversely influence their development. A child who suffers from emotional or physical abuse in the home is more likely to be delayed in developing language skills. One who has been deprived or neglected of social interaction may also be delayed in cognitive development.
Intellectual disorders, such as mental retardation, can affect a child of any age. Brain injury at birth or other conditions, such as cerebral palsy, can also have an effect on language development. Schizophrenia in a child generally causes disorganized thoughts and delusions, but language development can also be influenced by this condition. Attention deficit disorder may negatively affect language development, as well. Autism and autism spectrum disorders are one of the most recognized disorders that affect childhood language development. A child with this condition will not learn to speak at a normal age. Left untreated or undiagnosed, a child may never speak or form proper words and sentences. However, through professional therapy and intervention, many autistic children are able to learn adequate language skills.
A child with an abnormal or deformed facial structure may have delayed language skills. A cleft palate and lip will make it difficult to speak, and speech impediments, such as a lisp, may also affect the process. A child raised in a multi-lingual environment may experience a delay in language development or have poor language skills. The child may not grasp the primary language if there are several languages being spoken in the home. Or, there may be confusion about the meaning of certain words. However, some children do exceptionally well when exposed to a second language and can result in having above average skills. A child who is spoken to often can do well with language development.
What is Cognitive Development?
Cognitive development is characterized by the way a child acquires knowledge, learns, and interacts with their surrounding environment. Different cognitive skills are gained as a child develops, but a child of any ability will benefit from activities that promote active learning. By incorporating simple activities into everyday routines, a child’s cognitive development can be encouraged in the areas of concentration, memory, attention, and perception. Several ways to accomplish this is with sing-a-longs, identifying noises, practicing the alphabet, practicing counting, practicing colors and shapes, offering choices, asking questions, visiting interesting places, playing with everyday items, and offering a variety of games.
During the first three years of life, a child will learn the fastest. Infants and toddlers are busy gathering and organizing information about the world, and learning about the social world through interactions with other people. They begin to understand simple concepts through touching, smelling, seeing, hearing and moving. Toddlers become interested in more purposeful play and begin to notice more details and differences in their surroundings, using learned information to solve new problems. A child’s growing creativity is seen in music, art, movement, language, and pretend play. Infants learn from consistent, organized daily routines and begin to understand and appreciate order in the world, and predict what will happen next.
A child’s playtime with toys combined with indoor and outdoor activities contributes to healthy cognitive development. Infants and toddlers develop creativity when free to explore art materials, musical instruments, and building materials. Learning becomes more meaningful when materials and activities that are familiar to a child are included. Infants and toddlers who have disabilities or other special circumstances may need additional stimulation and support to help them learn. They may require adaptations to help them remember concepts or solve problems, or need to repeat experiences more often. Learning materials and activities indoors and outdoors can be modified to meet their needs. This enables all children to have the opportunity to discover, explore, create and participate.
What is Visual Perception?
Visual perception is one of the senses of the body which allows the brain to interpret and intercept visible light, creating the ability to see, and there are several different processes involved. Some are physiological, which converts light into signals that can be understood, caused by the reaction of the eye to light. Others are psychological, enabling the brain to make sense of the images it sees.
Visual perception can be interfered with by a number of things. Some people have physiological or anatomical abnormalities which make it impossible or difficult to see. Sometimes these abnormalities can be corrected or addressed, such as when glasses are needed to see clearly. Other people can have problems in the brain which interferes with vision. In this case, the eye functions perfectly, but the brain is unable to understand or interpret the signals sent by the eye. A doctor may perform visual perception tests to confirm that the eyesight is in good condition and to identify issues and problems that should be addressed. Problems with visual perception can also be a sign that there is a more serious underlying medical condition.
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO
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