Discuss Vygotsky’s significance of private speech in children? Are they more socially competent? Do you agree or disagree and why? (Essay Sample)

Discussion Post Student Name College Course Instructor Name Date Discussion Post According to Lev Vygotsky, private speech is an essential substantive element in a child's creativity. He suggests that private speech, or self-directed talk, is crucial for cognitive growth as a tool for internalizing language and thought. Vygotsky (1986) added that children use private speech to regulate actions, solve problems, and organize thoughts. It, therefore, represents a transitional phase between external social communication and internal thought processes, reflecting the internalization of cultural and social experiences. For Vygotsky, children who engage in private speech actively construct their understanding of the world, enhancing social competence and cognitive development. According to Vygotsky's theory, a child who frequently responds to private speech, in most cases, turns out to possess more social competence. This is because private speech can be a tool for cognitive development and practice and a source of internalization for social relations with the child. Indeed, through private speech, children rehearse and reflect on social norms, language use, and problem-solving strategies, which can enhance their ability to navigate social situations (Alkhudiry, 2022). As a result, kids who properly use private speech commonly exhibit sound communication skills, empathy, and understanding of social cues, all of which help improve social competence. I believe in Vygotsky's perspective on the form of private speech children use to develop social competence. Based on my observation, children who often engage in self-talk better grasp language and social norms. They look very confident in expressing themselves and interacting with others. Private speech allows the child to rehearse and experiment with social behavior at a relatively relaxed pace, free of the pressure of real-time social performance. The practice would likely enhance an individual's ability to effectively communicate and be sensitive to social cues to increase social competence. I believe in Vygotsky's perspective on the form of private speech c...