What Is This Childhood?

The first words a child speaks reveal a link between word and experience, and experience and meaning. In What Is This Childhood?, experienced teacher Carol Toole explores the consciousness of the young child through language development, often in their own words. Toole highlights that children's experience initially is one of perception rather than understanding. Yet, as their speech develops, children learn more about self-consciousness and critical thinking.Through learning about the language journey that children take, parents and teachers will discover how to enliven their speech and interactions with children, thereby preserving a child's sense of wonder and spiritual connection with the world.