Language Skills of Preschool Children Predictors and Intervention

Abstract

An intervention study was conducted to enhance language skills of preschool children newlineat University of Agriculture Sciences Dharwad. 240 children with age of 2-5 years were newlineselected from play home, nursery, LKG and UKG classes from rural and urban areas. newlineDifferential and correlation design were employed to know the relationship between language newlinedevelopment and predicting factors. Preschool Language Scale-5th edition (PLS-5) was used newlineto assess the language development. Self-structured general information, home environment, newlinechild s temperament, parent s and teacher s perception and socio-economic status scale were newlineused to assess other predicting factors. Results revealed significant association between newlinelocality and language development where, most of the urban children (65 %) were found newlineaverage compared to rural children (11.6 %). Girls were significantly better compared to newlineboys. Younger children were better compared to children with 3 years and above. First born newlinechildren had high scores compared to later borns. High level of parent s education and newlineoccupation was significantly influenced the language of rural and urban children. Children of newlinejoint family show significantly better scores compared to children of nuclear families. High newlinelevel of parent s and teacher s perception on child s language showed significant association. newlineComponents of child s temperament, viz., shyness, activity, emotionality and sociability were newlinesignificantly influenced the child s language development. Higher socio-economic status and newlinehome environment had significant association. Intervention provided to experimental group newlinerevealed, significant improvement in dimensions of auditory comprehension and expressive newlinecommunication. Child s temperament, parent s and teacher s perception on child s language newlineand home environment found to have significant gains with experimental children. newline