The impact of a community-based music program during infancy on the quality of parent-child language interactions

Abstract

The early language environment, especially high-quality, contingent parent-child language interactions, is crucial for a child's language development and later academic success. In this secondary analysis study, 89 parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to either the Music Together® (music) or play date (control) classes. Children were 9- to 15-month old at baseline, primarily white (86.7%) and female (52%). Measures of conversational turns (CTs) and parental verbal quality were coded from parent-child free play episodes at baseline, mid-intervention (month 6), and post-intervention (month 12). Results show that participants in the music group had a significantly greater increase in CT measures and quality of parent verbalization post-intervention. Music enrichment programs may be a strategy to enhance parent-child language interactions during early childhood.

FIGURE 1

Participant flowchart.

FIGURE 2

Changes in Total CT at baseline, 6- and 12-month assessments. Ninety 9- to 15-month-old infants were randomized to either the music enrichment group (music) or play date control (control) group. Model adjusted for covariates is present and data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Box plot representing Total CT data at baseline, month 6 and month 12 for music and control groups. CT, conversational turn. **p < .01.

FIGURE 3

Changes in Average CT at baseline, 6- and 12-month assessments. Ninety 9- to 15-month-old infants were randomized to either the music enrichment group (music) or play date control (control) group. Model adjusted for covariates is present and data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Box plot representing Average CT data at baseline, month 6 and month 12 for music and control groups. CT, conversational turn. **p < .01.

FIGURE 4

Changes Duration CE at baseline, 6- and 12-month assessments. Ninety 9- to 15-month-old infants were randomized to either the music enrichment group (music) or play date control (control) group. Model adjusted for covariates is present and data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Box plot representing Duration CE data at baseline, month 6 and month 12 for music and control groups. CE, conversational episode. *p < .05; **p < .01.

FIGURE 5

Changes in quality at baseline, 6- and 12-month assessments. Ninety 9- to 15-month-old infants were randomized to either the music enrichment group (music) or play date control (control) group. Model adjusted for covariates is present and data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Box plot representing quality data at baseline, month 6 and month 12 for music and control groups. *p < .05.