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Early interaction between infants and their parents predicts social competence at the age of four
Author(s) -
Hedenbro Monica,
Rydelius PerAnders
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12512
Subject(s) - social competence , competence (human resources) , developmental psychology , medicine , social relation , psychology , pediatrics , social change , social psychology , economics , economic growth
Aim To investigate the impact that the interaction between first‐born children and their parents, from the age of 3 months, has on peer and social competence when the children are 4 years of age. Methods Fifteen families were videotaped in Lausanne Trilogue Play situations (child–mother–father interactions), when the children were three, nine, 18 and 48 months of age. The findings were then related to peer and social competence assessments carried out by preschool teachers when the children were four. Results There was a correlation between the parents' responsiveness and the child's capacity to initiate (make contributions to) turn‐taking sequences in the family triad early in life. This, in turn, was associated with the child's later peer and social competence. At the age of 3 months, the child's contributions to the triadic interaction were interpreted by the parents as intentional communication. According to the preschool teachers' assessments, children who initiated turn‐taking sequences at 9 months of age had better peer competence (p = 0.008) and social competence (p = 0.028) at 48 months. Conclusion The results highlight the opportunities that parents have to stimulate their child's later social competence. They also show that a L ausanne T rilogue P lay situation can be used to identify competent children and children/families with communication deficits.