During the Pre-Operational Stage the child becomes a linguistic communicator.
Piaget has much to say about the Pre-Operational Stage. For our purposes we will zero in on the fact that it is the time of life when the child climbs on to the Linguistic Band Wagon. It is a window of opportunity that does not stay open permanently. As the child approaches puberty, if he/she has not gained some form of language, the ability to do so ends!
There is a slogan that sticks out in my mind about this period.
It is, "A Child Should Be Seen and Not Heard." What a disastrous concept. Can you imagine how well we would learn archery if we were taught by being told to watch only but to seldom try?
Of course, children, being the language geniuses that they are could do it. But that is in spite of us. How much better they can do with our help! And how do we help during this period?