14 research outputs found
Cross-cultural differences in mother-preschooler book sharing practices in the United States and Thailand
Development of Infant Pointing from 10 to 12Â months: The Role of Relevant Caregiver Responsiveness
Infantsâ pointing frequency is a predictor of their later language abilities. Yet, predictors of pointing frequency in the first year of life are not well understood. Study 1 explored what factors in infants and caregivers at 10 months would predict the pointing frequency of infants at 12 months (N = 35). Infantâdriven predictors were infantsâ fineâmotor skills and pointâfollowing abilities. Caregiverâmediated predictors were caregiversâ pointing frequency and responsiveness toward infantsâ pointing. Relevant caregiver responsiveness at 10 months predicted infantsâ pointing frequency at 12 months, controlling for the other factors and infantsâ prior pointing frequency. Study 2 explored whether childâlevel factors influence caregiversâ responsiveness (N = 49). We examined the hand shape of infantsâ pointing (wholeâhand versus indexâfinger) and the presence of pointâaccompanying vocalizations. Infantsâ vocalizationâaccompanied points were more likely to elicit relevant responses from caregivers, while hand shapes played a less pronounced role. Together, the findings reveal an early emerging mutual relationship between infant pointing and caregiver behavior such that certain characteristics of infant pointing predict caregiversâ responsiveness, and relevant responsiveness toward infantsâ pointing predicts the increase in infantsâ pointing frequencies