The Effects of Symbolic Play on Language Development

The Effects of Symbolic Play on Language Development in Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Objectives: Age of Intended Audience: 18 and up • Provide an introduction of the important role that play has on the development of language. • Provide examples of how the development of play and language differ between children with a hearing impairment and their normal hearing peers. • Describe the impact that caregivers have on their child’s development. Abstract: This product was designed to inform professionals and families about the effects of symbolic play. Through understanding, caregivers and professionals alike can provide an appropriate model for both language and play by knowing the natural order of development.

Between hearing children and those with a hearing loss… The relationship between symbolic play and language development is similar: n n n 13 mos. = play is related to receptive language, not so much expressive. 20 mos. = the amount of expressive language is equal to play. 2 ½ yrs. = language skills lead the development of play.

Still lagging! n n n Deaf (D) children still lag in their comprehension and expression of language. They lack full access to communicative information. Degree of loss affects awareness of spoken communication forms.

What is the big deal about play? n The communication that occurs in play requires children to know what to communicate, how to communicate, and to understand other’s communication.

Symbolic vs. Non-Symbolic? n n Non-symbolic play was found to have no bearing on later communication abilities. Symbolic play is related to various aspects of early language development in children that are D/HOH.

Hearing Impaired Children and Their Play Behaviors n n Less likely to identify a specific role. More likely to use real objects. Show little evidence of planning. More repetitive in their play behavior.

Environmental Factors n Dyad Hearing Status n n Deaf children of deaf mothers have similar language abilities as hearing children of hearing mothers. Hearing mothers of deaf children lack the responsiveness conducive of child language.

Ideas to Keep in Mind n n n Provide structured play scenarios during early development. Guide and encourage parents to use pretend play as a context for interaction with their child. Encourage parents to refer to events that occurred in the past.

Parents: The First Teachers n Teach parents the hierarchy of symbolic play.

References n n Bornstein, M. H. , Selmi, A. M. , Haynes, D. M. , Painter, K. M. , & Marx, E. S. (1999). Representational abilities and the hearing status of child-mother dyads. Child Development, 70(4), 833 -852. Brown, P. M. , Prescott, S. J. , Rickards, F. W. , & Paterson, M. M. (1999). Communicating about pretend play: A comparison of the utterances of 4 -year-old normally hearing and deaf or hard of hearing children in an integrated kindergarten. Volta Review, 99(1), 5 -17. Brown, P. M. , Rickards, F. W. , & Bortoli, A. (2001). Structures underpinning pretend play and word production in young hearing children and children with hearing loss. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 6(1), 15 -31. Lyytinen, P. , Laakso, M. , Poikkeus, A. , & Rita, N. (1999). The development and predictive relations of play and language across the second year. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 40, 177186.

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References n n Umek, L. M. & Musek, P. L. (2001). Symbolic play: Opportunities for cognitive and language development in preschool settings. Early Years, 21(1), 55 -64. Yoshinaga-Itano, C. , Snyder, L. S. , & Day, D. (1998). The relationship of language and symbolic play in children with hearing loss. Volta Review, 100(3), 135 -164.