This book investigates children's use of language and considers its implications for children's learning at home and at school. The author compares the language used by children from different social environments at the ages of three, five and seven and considers the different approaches that children take towards their school experiences. The book discusses the problems of studying children's use and development of language and in doing so looks at the implications of a number of theories. It uses theory in order to establish a useful framework which will help teachers to become aware of the skills that children have established in using language when they come to school.