Journal article
Promoting Toddlers' Positive Social-Emotional Outcomes in Low-Income Families: A Play-Based Experimental Study
Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology, Vol.42(5), pp.700-712
09/01/2013
DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2013.782815
PMCID: PMC3732517
PMID: 23557253
Abstract
This multimethod study of mothers and toddlers (a) examined the effectiveness of a play-based intervention (child-oriented play vs. play-as-usual) on children's cooperation with their mothers and socioemotional competence; (b) introduced a robust new measure of maternal engagement in the intervention, reflected in the dose of child-oriented play the mother delivered to the child; and (c) examined ecological factors that predicted maternal engagement, and the effect of engagement on the outcomes. Low-income mothers (N = 186, 11% Latino, 27% minority) were randomized into child-oriented play group or play-as-usual group, participated in 8 play sessions, and played daily with their children for 10 weeks. Microscopic coding of mothers' behavior in play sessions assessed the dose of child-oriented play delivered to children; mothers' diaries assessed time in daily play. Children's cooperation with maternal control, observed in the laboratory, and mother-rated competence were measured before randomization (Pretest), after play sessions (Posttest 1), and 6 months later (Posttest 2). Children in both groups made significant gains in both outcomes. The gains in cooperation appeared longer lasting in child-oriented play group. Both groups made significantly greater gains than a "historical community control" group, an unrelated longitudinal study without any intervention. Structural equation analyses revealed that married mothers and those with fewer children delivered higher doses of child-oriented play, and those doses predicted children's higher cooperation and competence, with the effects of earlier scores covaried. The dose of time spent in daily play had no effect. Child-oriented play may be a promising, effective, and inexpensive means of promoting toddlers' positive development.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Promoting Toddlers' Positive Social-Emotional Outcomes in Low-Income Families: A Play-Based Experimental Study
- Creators
- Grazyna Kochanska - Department of Psychology , The University of IowaSanghag Kim - Department of Sociology , Hanyang UniversityLea J Boldt - Department of Psychology , The University of IowaJamie Koenig Nordling - Department of Psychology , The University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology, Vol.42(5), pp.700-712
- DOI
- 10.1080/15374416.2013.782815
- PMID
- 23557253
- PMCID
- PMC3732517
- NLM abbreviation
- J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol
- ISSN
- 1537-4416
- eISSN
- 1537-4424
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/01/2013
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984002430402771
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