Effect of Play Contexts on Joint Attention - Comparison of Mother-Infant Interactions among Shared Book Reading, Toy Play, and No Material Play Situations

摘要

This study examines the effect of shared book reading on mother-infant joint attention interactions in infancy. Ten pairs composed of 9-month-old infants and their mothers were observed in three conditions: the shared-book, toy-play, and no material condition. As a result, a greater frequency of passive joint and coordinated joint attention in the shared book context than in others. These findings suggest that shared book reading spontaneously increases joint attention episodes between mothers and infants and that repeated shared book reading at home might promote child joint attention development.