What skill improves as part of pragmatic development in school-age children?

The ability to repair conversations is a key skill that improves during pragmatic development in school-age children. Pragmatics involves the social use of language, and as children grow, they learn to navigate more complex interactions. This includes recognizing when a conversation has gone off track, when a listener is confused, or when their message hasn't been effectively communicated.

The skill of repairing conversations allows children to rephrase their statements, clarify misunderstandings, or provide additional context to ensure effective communication. This ability is critical for their social interactions and academic success, as it helps them engage in meaningful dialogue, negotiate misunderstandings, and develop relationships with peers and teachers.

In contrast, repetition of phrases, understanding of basic instructions, and enhanced memory for hearing are skills that may not specifically pertain to pragmatic development in the same way. These skills may relate more to cognitive or linguistic aspects of language development rather than the social and interactive components emphasized in pragmatic skills.