According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development children aged 3-6 years old are in preoperational stage of their lifespan. During this period logical thinking and solving problem skills begin to form.
To teach young learners a second language in an effective way you should take into consideration their developmental characteristics and how children assimilate a foreign language.
Children love listening to stories. It is a natural way for them to assimilate a language. For this reason, teachers use storytelling as a perfect introduction to the foreign language in a familiar context. What is more, stories are motivating and develope social skills.
It is believed that children can start learning a foreign language as early as possible even if they cannot speak their mother tongue. It is crucial to organise optimal conditions to learn the language naturally in the same way as the first language.