Influence of Intervention on Temperament and Developmental Outcomes of Infants

Quality child care in the early years essentially means care with a high degree of positive interaction between care-givers and children which leads to better mother-child interaction. The present study attempts to study the efficacy and influence of stimulatory intervention on temperament and motor and mental development of infants. A sample of 109 infants of age birth to eighteen months was selected from two villages that served as an experimental group and control group. The study adopted a semi-longitudinal approach wherein the infants were followed upto 36 months with the final post testing at 36 months. Temperament of infants was assessed by a checklist and Bayley’s Scale of Infant Development was used to measure motor and mental development. An intervention consisting of proper stimulation to the infants and scientific knowledge related to childcare, developmental milestones of infants and effective home environment was provided to the mothers of the experimental group infants. Infants in both the groups were pre-tested and post tested to see the effect of intervention. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between both groups regarding motor and mental development. Temperament was found to be significantly associated with the developmental indices of infants. The stimulatory intervention programme was found to be effective in increasing the motor and mental development of children

Bayley Scales of Infant Development · Checklist · Child development · Cognition · Developmental psychology · Mental development · Motor skill · Personality · Psychiatry · Psychomotor learning · Temperament · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Infant Health and Development · Medicine · Psychology · Pediatrics