The effects of early mother-child interaction and maternal language patterns on later development

A summary of some research on the effects of early and extended contact of primiparous lower socio-economic black mothers with their infants during the first three hours and the following three days after birth is presented. Results of verbal interaction overtime include the relationship of mother's speech to their one and two year olds, the relationship of speech to the two year old with the speech and language comprehension of the children when five, as well as the acquisition of meanings through social interaction at two and five. The questions addressed are: are altered hospital procedures which resulted in significantly more attentiveness of mothers with newborns reflected in mother's use of language? Does maternal talk to children have a lasting effect on language development? What are the implications of study results for nurseries, home, early childhood curriculum, hospitals and school behaviors?