Introduction of a Novel Toy Changes the Contingent Dynamics of Infant-Caregiver Joint Exploration

Abstract

Infant-caregiver joint exploration is a dynamic process in which dyads coordinate their behaviors. Facing novelty is a critical moment in joint exploration, sparking learning by allowing infants to expand their knowledge and enabling caregivers to support it. However, little research has examined the impacts of novelty on infants’ and caregivers’ joint exploration. To address this gap, we investigated changes in their real-time contingent dynamics during exploration of novel versus familiar toys. Thirty-nine caregivers and their infants (Mage = 16 months) participated in a 10-min play session at home, consisting of two 5-min phases: a Familiarity Phase and a Novelty Phase, where a novel toy was introduced. A perceptually matched familiar toy was selected for systematic comparison in the Familiarity Phase. Infant exploration and caregiver exploration-promoting strategies (Verbal Promoting, Nonverbal Promoting, Monitoring) were coded at 1-s intervals. Infants were more likely to explore the novel toy following caregivers’ exploration-promoting behaviors, particularly when multiple strategies were provided within a short time window. Caregivers maintained similar levels of contingent responsiveness but adopted more observational strategies in response to infants’ novel toy exploration, potentially fostering infant-led, autonomous learning. Together, these results underscore the role of novelty in shaping how infant-caregiver dyads coordinate their contingent interactions, and suggest that such moment-to-moment adjustment may foster early learning.