Why Children Talk to Themselves

Why Children Talk to Themselves
Although children are often rebuked for talking to themselves out loud, doing so helps them control their behavior and master new skills.

As any parent, teacher, sitter or casual observer will notice, young children talk to themselves, sometimes as much or even more than they talk to other people. Depending on the situation, this private speech (as modern psychologists call the behavior) can account for 20 - 60% of the remarks a child younger than 10 years makes. Many parents and educators misinterpret this chatter as a sign of disobedience, inattentiveness or even mental instability. In fact, private speech is an essential part of cognitive development for all children. Recognition of this fact should strongly influence how both normal children and children who have trouble learning are taught.

According to studies of Laura E. Berk, professor of psychology and researcher, based on the papers of Lev S.Vygotsky- a prolific russian psychologist there's a strong link between social experience, speech and learning. According to the Russian, the aspects of reality a child is ready to master lie within what he called the zone of proximal (or potential) development. It refers to a range of  tasks that a child cannot yet accomplish without the guidance from an adult or more skilled peer. The child incorporates the language of those dialogues into his or her private speech and then use it to guide independently.

By communicating with mature members of society, children learn to master activities and think in ways that have meaning in their culture.
Consequently, children omit words and phrases that refer to things they already know about a given situation.They state only those aspects that still seem puzzling.  Once their cognitive operations become well practiced, children start "to think" words rather than saying them.
Gradually private speech become internalized as silent, inner speech, those conscious dialogues we hold with ourselves while thinking and acting.
Nevertheless, the need to engage in private speech never disappears. Whenever we encounter unfamiliar or demanding activities in our lives, private speech resurfaces. It is a tool that help us overcome obstacles and acquire new skills. 

References:
Scientific American Exclusive Online/ The child's Mind Book
Article and image by Laura E. Berk

If you want to read more about this article, or other articles like:
- The Moral Development of Children
- Scars That Won’t Heal: The Neurobiology of Child Abuse
- How Should Reading be Taught?
- Uncommon Talents: Gifted Children, Prodigies and Savants
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Think Better: Learning to Focus
Download or read online The Child's Mind book:
http://www.federaljack.com/ebooks/Consciousness%20Books%20Collection/SciAm%20-%20Child's%20Mind.pdf