Communicative skills develop when there's something meaningful for children to communicate about-when they are taking an active role.

Young children are unlikely to have their self-esteem strengthened from excessive praise or flattery. On the contrary, it may raise some doubts in children; many children can see through flattery and may even dismiss an adult who heaps on praise as a poor source of support-one who is not very believable.

All children, are born with the disposition to make sense of their experiences.

In cooperative learning, you have a purposeful, meaningful, and authentic context in which children can sharpen their communicative skills.

Children involved in project work are encouraged to serve the group needs and share responsibility for what's accomplished.

As you consider whether to move a child into formal academic training, remember that we want our children to do more than just learn how to read and write; we want them to learn in such a way that they become lifelong readers and writers. If we push our children to start learning these skills too far ahead of their own spontaneous interest and their capacity, we may sacrifice the long-range goal of having them enjoy such pursuits.

Communicative skills develop when there's something meaningful for children to communicate about-when they are taking an active role.