THE IMPORTANCE OF IDIOMS FOR CHILDREN: THEIR ROLE IN LANGUAGE LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT OF LOGICAL THINKING, AND THEIR AESTHETIC AND EMOTIONAL IMPACT

Idioms, as culturally rich figurative expressions, significantly enhance children’s language acquisition, cognitive development, and emotional growth. This article provides an in-depth exploration of how idioms contribute to linguistic fluency, foster logical thinking through metaphorical reasoning, and enrich aesthetic and emotional expression. Drawing on a comprehensive review of recent studies and empirical evidence, the study evaluates effective pedagogical methods for teaching idioms to children, including contextual learning, Total Physical Response (TPR), story-based approaches, and gamification. The findings underscore that idioms not only improve linguistic competence but also promote critical thinking, cultural awareness, and emotional intelligence, making them indispensable in early education. Practical recommendations for educators, curriculum developers, and parents are discussed, emphasizing the systematic integration of idioms in language learning programs to support holistic child development.