The Impact of a Community-Based Music Program on the Quality of Parent–Child Language Interactions: A One-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

The opportunity for language-building interactions, and specifically conversational turn-taking with a caregiver, is a critical foundation for enhancing a child's language development. In this secondary analysis of conversational turns, 89 parent–child dyads who previously completed 1 year of either weekly Music Together (music) or play date (control) classes (intensive intervention phase) were assessed after 1 year of monthly classes (maintenance phase). Conversational turns were coded from parent–child free play interactions conducted in a laboratory environment post maintenance phase (month-24). Results show that participants in the music group had a greater increase in the average number of conversational turns in each episode from baseline to month 24. Participating in music enrichment programs during infancy may benefit parent–child language interactions into toddlerhood.