Characterizing the Places and Spaces of Infants’ Everyday Play

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: PS 14 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Infants’ homes are a primary context for early learning. Homes contain both psychosocial (e.g., interactions between caregivers and infants) and physical features (e.g., objects for play, clutter, and open space), yet most research focuses exclusively on psychosocial features. The connection between physical home features and development is evident as early as infancy. However, most research relies on parent report of home environments, such as books and toys available or level of chaos. Missing from the literature are descriptions based on observable characteristics of the physical home environment in relation to infants’ real-time object interactions.
We visited 60 mothers and their 13-, 18-, and 23-month old infants at home for two hours during naturalistic routines, and coded the frequency and duration of infants’ interactions with objects. We conducted video “house tours” in which mothers led the experimenter from room to room. From video recordings, we coded: (1) accessible objects for play, e.g., the number and variety of toys and books, (2) clutter, based on the items on counters and floors and piles of dishes, laundry, and papers, and (3) space to move, based on total home square footage. Additionally, we coded frame by frame infants’ real-time object interactions to examine associations between the physical environment and infant play behaviors. We hypothesized infants would engage in frequent, long play bouts in homes with many accessible objects for play. Furthermore, we hypothesized clutter would be associated with shorter play durations, with infants quickly switching from object to object. Finally, we expected space to move would relate to frequent play with motion-oriented toys (e.g., strollers, push-toys, balls).
Based on preliminary data from 34 dyads, we created digital floorplans of homes (see Figure 1). Homes varied in size (M=755.55 square feet, SD=267.26, ranging from about 400 square feet apartments to almost 2000 square feet, multi-story houses). Homes likewise varied in accessible objects for play (M=39.62, SD=20.45, range=15 to 89). Homes varied in clutter, ranging from 4 to 85 toys on the floor, M=30.03, SD=20.62, and in non-toy objects on the floor, ranging from 5 to 118 objects, M=34.18, SD=23.56. Items on counter tops averaged M=66.50, SD=20.22, ranging from 30 to 101. On average, homes contained few piles of laundry, M=1.56, SD=1.33, ranging from 0 to 6, piles of papers, M=2.02, SD=2.42, ranging from 0 to 8, and unwashed dishes, M=1.73, SD=1.81, ranging from 0 to 7. Preliminary analysis reveals positive associations between time spent interacting with objects and number of toys, r=.431, p=.011 and with number of books, r=.354, p=.040 (see Figure 2). However, clutter did not relate to infant play. We are currently investigating whether space to move shapes infant play behaviors such as object carrying and play with motion-oriented toys, controlling for socioeconomic status.
We advance a unique methodological approach to characterizing the home environments of infants through real-time video-recordings and house tours. Preliminary findings indicate that object-dense home environments support infant play. Furthermore, findings have important implications for the ways caregivers and practitioners structure the places and spaces of infants’ everyday lives to foster play, exploration, and learning.

Authors

• Katelyn Fletcher, Temple University
  Presenting Author

• Kelsey L West, New York University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Yoyo Wang, New York University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Catherine S Tamis-Lemonda, New York University
  Non-Presenting Author