Object-mediated caregiver-infant interactions observed during the first days of daycare

Abstract

In this study, we examined object-mediated caregiver-infant interactions that occurred during the first five days of daycare. From the video recordings, we extracted the events where caregivers presented objects to infants and analyzed the types of objects presented, infant behavior at the time of presentation, and the manner in which objects were presented. Caregivers presented objects to infants quite frequently, with the variety increasing daily. However, after a couple of days, the frequency of object presentation by caregivers decreased. On the last day of observation, the most frequently observed situations of object presentation were those in which caregivers presented objects to nearby infants who were emotionally stable and not being held. Caregivers selected different objects based on the infants’ situations; some objects were more likely to be presented when infants were crying or during diaper changes, while others were presented when infants were interacting with other objects. The specific situation in which an object was presented varied for each infant. Additionally, certain objects were used in various ways during a presentation, while others were associated with specific actions.