Early interaction between infants and their parents predicts social competence at the age of four

To investigate the impact that the interaction between first-born children and their parents, from the age of 3 months, has on peer and social competence when the children are 4 years of age.

Fifteen families were videotaped in Lausanne Trilogue Play situations (child-mother-father interactions), when the children were three, nine, 18 and 48 months of age. The findings were then related to peer and social competence assessments carried out by preschool teachers when the children were four.

There was a correlation between the parents' responsiveness and the child's capacity to initiate (make contributions to) turn-taking sequences in the family triad early in life. This, in turn, was associated with the child's later peer and social competence. At the age of 3 months, the child's contributions to the triadic interaction were interpreted by the parents as intentional communication. According to the preschool teachers' assessments, children who initiated turn-taking sequences at 9 months of age had better peer competence (p = 0.008) and social competence (p = 0.028) at 48 months.

The results highlight the opportunities that parents have to stimulate their child's later social competence. They also show that a Lausanne Trilogue Play situation can be used to identify competent children and children/families with communication deficits.