Constructivist Theory

According to the Constructivist Theory, learners construct their own knowledge through assimilating new experiences into their knowledge base (Piaget & Inhelder, 1969). This theory, when applied to language development in children, suggests that each child will construct his or her own knowledge of language based on what he or she hears and sees.

Constructivist Theory incorporates ideas from both the Behaviorist and the Nativist theories. There is potential within each child (Nativist), and the environment in which the child lives will influence his or her language development (Behaviorist). Therefore, the Constructivist Theory includes both nature and nurture indicating language development is more than just imitation.

This theory also states why children use language in ways they have never heard. For example, Jane and her three-year-old daughter, Paula, hurried down the street to pay their bills. As they were walking hand in hand, Paula tugged on her mother's hand and stated, "Mama! My skeleton's biting me!" After asking a few leading questions to figure out what her daughter meant, Jane finally determined that her daughter had a stitch in her side from walking so quickly.

In this case, the child, Paula, had not heard of a skeleton biting before but she did know that a skeleton was ere inside her body. She used the words she knew, to describe what she was feeling, and communicate her distress as best as she could.