10+ Ways for Improving Mother and Infant
InteractionNancy Otero [email protected]
Targeted Behavior (TB)Juana (J) is a San Jose’s Low-Socioeconomic Status Latina
mother of Miriam (M), 30 mos infant. Juana wants to read books to Miriam but has no
experience reading books. The goal is to make Juana share a story or children’s book with
Miriam for 20 min at night before the child goes to sleep every day for the next years
Start Simple• J has never read books
to M, so it will be easier to start with sharing stories or a book but without paying attention to a formal way to read it
• One of the goals of reading the book is for the child to like to read. So, it’s very important that M has a good time during the activity
• Let’s start with J doing the behavior at least one. Then will move to reinforcing it.
Methodology
• First I start with ideas of how TB may occur
• Then I pick the best ways for TB to occur and sequence possibilities for those behaviors to happen
• After that I design for one path in the sequence
• Try it, improve it, and try it again
Natural and Promoted Ways
The next slide contains many ways in which the behavior we want occurs. Sometimes the occurrence is very
effective in getting J to tell a story to M, but is not very efficient. Sometimes is
the other way. We’ll focus on the behaviors that are the most effective
and efficient (right upper corner)
J has the goal of asking 3 Q about
the book to M
J teaches her family/friends how to read
books to their children
J lets M interact with the book and
just talks about whatever M is interested in
J creates her own
children’s book
J tells a story of how/when
she learnt something
J creates the habit of telling a
story after brushing teeth
J eats something she likes while
telling the story
J links book’s story to M’s experience
J adds a poster in M’s room
with a story
J subscribe to the public library and takes M to
choose books
J watches a show she likes after
reading a book to M
J hugs M every time M wants to read
a book
J signs for children’s
books club
J joins raising a reader
J buys children’s
books with M and prepares 1 they’ll read
tonight
J lets M watch TV after they share a book
J acts the favorite
book of M
J watches videos oh how to read children’s book
J plays with M that J is the child and M
needs to tell a story to J
J makes a list of the
stories she’ll tell M this
week
J gets 5 dollars every time she
records sharing a story with M for
20 minutes
J gets a massage from her husband
after sharing a story with her
child
JLo asks J to share stories with M
Yes,
J c
an d
o it
No,
we
can’
t get
J do
this
Not effective in getting J to do the TB
Very effective in getting J to do the TB
Why that Order?• People with no previous experience reading
book may consider the activity very formal• They want their child to pay attention, don’t
interrupt, read in order, etc. This makes the reading boring for the child and the activity becomes hard for mother and child• The main goal is to increase the quality and
quantity of mother-child interaction• If both enjoy it, then it will be easier to build
upon that experience
Making it HappenJ lets M interact with the book and just talks about whatever M is interested in– Go to J house
• Important to understand J&M context, specially if we want to create a habit
– Tell J that all she needs to do is to say 3 things about whatever M is interested in. One of them related to M previous experience. • It’s easier for J to say something if it’s very specific what she
needs to do and linking the story to M previous experience engage M and help her learn new words
– Give M an age appropriate book of something she expressed be interested in• Otherwise she may not be interested in doing the activity
Trial 1: Insights
• Very hard for J to have the time and space alone with M. Older children were presented causing J&M to be distracted• J was uncomfortable that M was not treating
the book with “respect”. M was looking to the book not in order, manage it as like any other toy.• When M approached to J, J wanted to have
the book• M was very distracted
Improving Trial 1• Created a 1 Page book and plastified it• Ask J&M to move to an area by themselves
for 4 min. Promised I’ll just use 4 minutes only
• Told J to pretend she can just see what M is looking at and let M guide her
• Ask J to say 1 thing about what M is interested in
• Ask J to ask 1 open questions to M after J talks to her
Overall Insights
• Asking parents with no experience with children’s books to read them to their children can lead to a very bad experience for both
• Find the right context (time and space) for reading a book is not trivial.
• The formal way Low-SES parents perceive reading needs to be addressed for achieving a positive experience between parents and child
Thank you!
Please send me you comments, suggestions, and questions to [email protected]
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