Abstract
To investigate the effects of maternal responsiveness on infant play and language development, 24 mother-infant dyads were observed at home when infants were 5 and 13 months of age. At 5 months, maternal responsiveness to infant behaviors, such as looking and vocalizing, was observed. At 13 months, infant playwas observed, and data concerning infant language comprehension and production were also obtained during interviews with mothers. The relations between maternal responsiveness and infant play and language were analyzed. The results showed that nurturant maternal responsiveness to infant distress, and imitative responsiveness to infant non-distress vocalizations at 5 months, related to infant play and language comprehension and productionat 13 months. These findings suggest that nurturant responsiveness to infant distress and imitation of infant non-distress vocalizations facilitate the development of infants' play and language skills.
