In the study, published in the Infant Mental Health journal, researchers from Imperial College London, King’s College London, and Oxford University looked at how fathers interacted with their babies at three months of age and measured their development more than a year later.
They recorded parents interacting with their children, with mothers and fathers playing with their babies without toys, and then during a book-reading session at two years of age. Researchers then observed the videos, grading the fathers on their interactions.
At two-years-old, they scored the baby’s cognitive development using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development – a series of measures, which includes recognising colours and shapes, to assess the development of children aged from one- to- 42 months.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
