Parent-toddler interactions during motor play: Implications for developing verb comprehension

As toddlers increase their word comprehension they also make rapid gains in motor abilities. These motor abilities provide new opportunities for exploring the environment, and possibly, provide new topics of conversation. We examined how parents interact with their 13- to 15-month olds while they engage in three types of motor actions – Body Only (e.g., walk), Whole Body with Object (e.g., ride), and Manual with Object (e.g., throw). We used structured observations with age-appropriate toys in a family-friendly laboratory setting.