Maternal Stimulation and Infant Exploratory Competence: Cross-sectional, Correlational, and Experimental Analyses

Abstract

Research on maternal influence on infant development is criticized on the basis of its limited ability to make strong causal claims. 2 observational studies are then presented; 1 details, cross-sectionally, developmental changes in strategies of maternal stimulation and infant exploration and the interrelationship of these domains of parent and child behavior; the other tests, experimentally, the hypothesis that maternal stimulation fosters infant exploratory competence. Results of the first study reveal: (1) a linear increase in mother's verbal attention-focusing behavior and a curvilinear trend in physical attention-focusing strategies between 9 and 18 months; (2) linear increases in a variety of measures of infant exploration; and (3) positive associations between naturalistically observed maternal stimulation and infant exploratory competence. The experimental study demonstrates that infant exploratory skill, as measured both naturalistically and during a semistructured, free-play assessment, is positively influenced by the enhancement of maternal stimulation. These latter results are discussed in terms of infant stimulation programs.

The relationship between interaction with the caregiver and the emergence of play activities during the one‐word period

“…The children's performance was more advanced during interactive sequences in the zone of proximal development than during non-interactive sequences at the level of actual development. These results are consonant with findings of other researchers who have examined the enhancing effect of the caregiver during free play (Dunn & Wooding, 1977), of the manipulated input of caregivers during play (Belsky et al, 1980), and of models during structured play (Fenson & Ramsay, 1981). Specifically, in this study the caregivers 'other-regulated' by providing demonstrations of culturally recognizable activities, guided the children's participation in them, and interpreted on-going activities as such.…”

“…stacking 9-volt batteries, nesting bottle caps, or rolling cans. These activities occur interactively (Belsky et al, 1980), as well as non-interactively (Nicolich, 1977).…”

The Exploratory Behavior Scale: Assessing young visitors' hands‐on behavior in science museums

“…For infants, the quality of exploratory behavior has been found to correlate with measures of cognitive ability (Jennings, Harmon, Morgan, Gaiter, & Yarrow, 1979). In addition, infant exploratory competence has been found to correlate with caregiver stimulation and responsiveness (Belsky, Goode, & Most, 1980;Fortner-Wood & Henderson, 1997). To define the EBS levels, process descriptions of exploration as well as existing measures of exploration and play were examined to distinguish aspects of behavior that could be included in the scale.…”

A cross-cultural comparison of mothers’ beliefs about their parenting very young children

“…Many studies show short- and long-term influences of these parental practices on child development. For example, mothers’ social interactions reportedly exert positive influences on children’s social competencies (Chen, Liu, & Li, 2000), and mothers’ didactic interactions foster children’s verbal and mental development (e.g., Belsky, Goode, & Most, 1980; Bornstein, 1985, 1989; Tamis-LeMonda & Bornstein, 1989). …”