Study of Childhood Language Acquisition and Development

[GullibleCynic]

I remember reading a thread a long time ago suggesting that the study of childhood language acquisition and childhood development generally could have happened a lot earlier. (If anyone can find the thread, let me know and I'll link it here) The key point, it was claimed, was that people just need to bother actually studying children as they grew up.

How early could a rigorous science of Childhood Language Acquisition and Development be invented? What factors would be relevant?

 

[H.Flashman(VC)]

I personally can't see it developing before the 2nd half of the 18th century. Because only then children were seen as more than little adults, having a different psyche (this last very crudely defined).