Early Years and Disadvantage: Matching Developmental Circumstances in Populations to Prevention and Intervention Opportunities

AbstractIn this chapter we use rich longitudinal data to examine the typical growth of vocabulary in children as they age from 4 years onwards. Vocabulary is a robust indicator of language development and of early cognitive growth. The data demonstrate the surprising variability among children of similar ages in their early cognitive growth. This variability leads to difficulties in predicting early vulnerability and in subsequently selecting children for targeted interventions. By examining the developmental circumstances that accelerate or retard changes in the growth of this aspect of language development we assess the implications of the findings for the subsequent population reach and actual participation of children in programs designed to reach those who are variously vulnerable.