Sumeya (age three) is playing with the dolls' house at nursery. Arabic is her first language. She is playing alone, moving the dolls around the house and enacting a story with them. She talks to herself in Arabic, describing what the dolls are doing.
1. Children's self-talk is very important, for a number of reasons.
Sumeya is experimenting with language that is familiar to her from her own experience. She talks about the dolls and builds a story around them. It is common for children of this age to use talk in this way, regardless of whether there is anyone listening or joining in.
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