Opportunities for Learning and Social Interaction in Infant Sitting: Effects of Sitting Support, Sitting Skill, and Gross Motor Delay
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| Title: | Opportunities for Learning and Social Interaction in Infant Sitting: Effects of Sitting Support, Sitting Skill, and Gross Motor Delay |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Kretch, Kari S. (ORCID |
| Source: | Developmental Science. May 2023 26(3). |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 16 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Institute of Education Sciences (ED) National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) (NICHD/NIH) |
| Contract Number: | R324A150103 K12HD055929 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Psychomotor Skills, Motor Development, Cognitive Development, Language Acquisition, Infants, Caregiver Role, Interpersonal Relationship, Educational Opportunities |
| DOI: | 10.1111/desc.13318 |
| ISSN: | 1363-755X 1467-7687 |
| Abstract: | The development of independent sitting changes everyday opportunities for learning and has cascading effects on cognitive and language development. Prior to independent sitting, infants experience the sitting position with physical support from caregivers. Why does supported sitting not provide the same input for learning that is experienced in independent sitting? This question is especially relevant for infants with gross motor delay, who require support in sitting for many months after typically developing infants sit independently. We observed infants with typical development (n = 34, ages 4-7 months) and infants with gross motor delay (n = 128, ages 7-16 months) in early stages of sitting development, and their caregivers, in a dyadic play observation. We predicted that infants who required caregiver support for sitting would spend more time facing away from the caregiver and less time contacting objects than infants who could sit independently. We also predicted that caregivers of supported sitters would spend less time contacting objects because their hands would be full supporting their infants. Our first two hypotheses were confirmed; however, caregivers spent surprisingly little time using both hands to provide support, and caregivers of supported sitters spent more time contacting objects than caregivers of independent sitters. Similar patterns were seen in the group of typically developing infants and the infants with motor delay. Our findings suggest that independent sitting and supported sitting provide qualitatively distinct experiences with different implications for social interaction and learning opportunities. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| IES Funded: | Yes |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1372299 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | The development of independent sitting changes everyday opportunities for learning and has cascading effects on cognitive and language development. Prior to independent sitting, infants experience the sitting position with physical support from caregivers. Why does supported sitting not provide the same input for learning that is experienced in independent sitting? This question is especially relevant for infants with gross motor delay, who require support in sitting for many months after typically developing infants sit independently. We observed infants with typical development (n = 34, ages 4-7 months) and infants with gross motor delay (n = 128, ages 7-16 months) in early stages of sitting development, and their caregivers, in a dyadic play observation. We predicted that infants who required caregiver support for sitting would spend more time facing away from the caregiver and less time contacting objects than infants who could sit independently. We also predicted that caregivers of supported sitters would spend less time contacting objects because their hands would be full supporting their infants. Our first two hypotheses were confirmed; however, caregivers spent surprisingly little time using both hands to provide support, and caregivers of supported sitters spent more time contacting objects than caregivers of independent sitters. Similar patterns were seen in the group of typically developing infants and the infants with motor delay. Our findings suggest that independent sitting and supported sitting provide qualitatively distinct experiences with different implications for social interaction and learning opportunities. |
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| ISSN: | 1363-755X 1467-7687 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/desc.13318 |
