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The role of social interaction and
child development
Language, attention and memory do not simply develop in the brain. They are acquired through interaction with others.
All learning takes place in a dynamic, social environment.
The role of social interaction and
child development
The learning between the adult and the child is two way - the child learns from the adult and the adult also learns from
the child.
It used to be thought that the adult controlled this interactional process. We now know that, even with very young infants,
that this is a much more two way process.
Infants are not passive in their interactions - they often initiate and maintain the interactive games that they have with
adults. These games are characterised by mutual enjoyment.
Interacting with a child with complex
disabilities
For children with complex needs, there are a variety of reasons why such interactions may be different:
There may be fewer initiating behaviours from the child.
The adult may have difficulty reading the child's signals.
The child's responses may be delayed or ambiguous.
The child may not be enjoying the game enough to continue.
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