How mother's communication affects the ability of children to understand other people
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Little children, to whom mothers more often tell in more detail about the thoughts and feelings of other people, usually perceive someone else's point of view more adequately than other children of the same age.
To such conclusions came the scientists from the University of Western Australia in a new study, the results of which are published in the journal Child Development.
"If parents often put themselves in the shoes of others when talking to their children, it is more likely that their children will do the same," says study author Brad Farrant.
To learn more about what contributes to developing people's ability to take an alternative point of view, scientists have learned how parents interact and talk with their children. In a two-year study, more than 120 Australian children aged 4 to 6 years old who were just beginning to learn speech skills took part.
In the course of the study, children performed tasks that assessed their language skills, the ability to make inferences and flexibly switch between different points of view. Mothers reported on the types of communication they used with their children.
The scientists found that the mothers, who spoke more often and in more detail about people, thoughts and feelings, commenting on how another person can respond to a specific situation, as well as their own feelings about this situation, the children found themselves with better linguistic and intellectual skills. This suggests that the use of this type of maternal communication affects the development of children's skills in speech, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to perceive someone else's point of view.
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