Previous studies have shown that caregivers' sensitive, responsive interactions with young children can boost language development. We explored the association between caregivers' sensitivity and the vocabulary development of their 8-to-36-month-olds during COVID-19 when family routines were unexpectedly disrupted. Measuring caregivers' sensitivity from home interaction videos at three timepoints, we found that children who experienced more-sensitive concurrent interactions had higher receptive and expressive vocabularies (N=100). Children whose caregivers showed more-sensitive interactions at the beginning of the pandemic showed greater expressive vocabulary growth six (but not 12) months later (n=58). Significant associations with receptive vocabulary growth were not observed. Our findings highlight the importance of sensitivity at a time when other positive influences on language development were compromised.
Journal article
2024-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
51
1213 - 1229
16
Covid-19, Interaction quality, vocabulary, Humans, COVID-19, Infant, Male, Female, Child, Preschool, Vocabulary, Caregivers, Language Development, United Kingdom, SARS-CoV-2, Child Language