Posted: April 24th, 2025

week 2 Discussion 1

Theories of Cognitive and Language Development

In early childhood development, several cognitive and language development theories are viewed as frameworks in the field. As a professional, it is essential that you understand these theories. This discussion will help you to build your framework of these theories and reflect on those most aligned with your beliefs.

To prepare for this discussion,

• Please refer to the Week 2 Guidance for further tips and examples that will support your success on this discussion.
• Read Piper, T. (2012).

  Chapter 3: Learning Language: How Children Do It

• Garcia, E. E. & Nanez, J. E., Sr. (2011).

  Chapter 2: Cognitive Theories and Their Perspectives on Language

For your initial post you will have a student debate following the University of Arizona Global Campus’s Netiquette Rules (found in the Course Policies tab on the left side of course) on different theories of cognitive and language development. For debate purposes, you are assigned a theory according to the first letter of your last name. Visit the

BA ECDDI Research GuideLinks to an external site.

for additional resources for each perspective.

If your last name begins with A – FResearch the behaviorist perspective.

If your last name begins with G – M

Research the nativist perspective.If your last name begins with N – SResearch the interactionist perspective.If your last name begins with T – Z

Research the evolutionary perspective.

Title your post with the theory of your research. Address the following in your post, including evidence from the readings to support your ideas.

• Explain your assigned theory of language development in two to three paragraphs using one scholarly resource from University of Arizona Global Campus Library to support your analysis.
• Describe why this theory has validity for the purpose of language development.
• Explain why you do or do not support this perspective of language development.
• Defend what you see as strengths or weaknesses of this theory when applied to your future career.