One of the important aspects of the topic of CLA is 'development'. Jean Piaget said that children won't use language they don't understand e.g. they won't use words like 'longer' and 'narrower' (except when copying) before they understand how to make estimates and compare. This theory is called 'cognitive development' and this concept is explored here where the writer talks about the difference in gossip between 3- and 5-year-olds.
By five they are cognitively devloped enough to give justifications for their opinions. Younger children may lack understanding of abstract concepts like 'generosity' or 'selfishness', although they are extrememly selfish themselves at that age, because they are only interested in meeting their own needs (they are egocentric) and don't yet understand the social value of sharing (although they might have had it drummed into them that you share, few have the emotional maturity to want to in order to make others like and trust them and feel better - this requires empathy which often develops more around 4-5 years old).
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