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Fathers and Mothers at Play With Their 2‐ and 3‐Year‐Olds: Contributions to Language and Cognitive Development
Author(s) -
TamisLeMonda Catherine S.,
Shan Jacqueline D.,
Cabrera Natasha J.,
Lamb Michael E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00818.x
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , early head start , language development , cognitive development , ethnically diverse , child development , cognition , maternal sensitivity , ethnic group , neuroscience , sociology , anthropology
Father–child and mother–child engagements were examined longitudinally in relation to children's language and cognitive development at 24 and 36 months. The study involved a racially/ethnically diverse sample of low‐income, resident fathers (and their partners) from the National Early Head Start evaluation study ( n =290). Father–child and mother–child engagements were videotaped for 10 min at home during semistructured free play, and children's language and cognitive status were assessed at both ages. Fathers' and mothers' supportive parenting independently predicted children's outcomes after covarying significant demographic factors. Moreover, fathers' education and income were uniquely associated with child measures, and fathers' education consistently predicted the quality of mother–child engagements. Findings suggest direct and indirect effects of fathering on child development.