Study of the communicative profile of 4- to 6-year-old children of public day care centers

Purpose to characterize speech and language development of 4- to 6-year-old children of two day care centers and to discuss interrelations with environmental resources (family and child care). Methods 60 children were assessed. In order to evaluate the language, an observation roadmap proposed in the literature was applied and performance was rated by Performance Ratios. Assessment of speech was done by deploying a phonemic album and classifying it as either appropriate or inappropriate according to two benchmarks. Characterized family environment by a questionnaire (RAF) and the Day Care Centers by the Infant and Toddlers Environment Rating Scale-Revised. Results were analyzed as dependent variables considering the Performance Ratios of the communicative profile and speech ratings and as independent variables for age, sex, Day Care facility and RAF Global Index. A significance level of p<0.05 was used. Results the environmental quality of the Day Care Centers was considered satisfactory and both centers had high rates in their communicative performance. There was a statistically significant association between communicative profile and sex and age. Girls and 5-year-old children achieved the highest averages. Also, there was a significant association between the communicative profile composite index and the RAF Global Index demonstrating that family environment influences language development. Conclusions in this sample there was an association between family environment and speech development. Further studies are needed to investigate risk factors for the development of language and speech and to contribute for the development of actions that will promote child health.