Influences on adolescent mother-infant interactions

This study investigated the short-term effects of teaching parenting skills to adolescent mothers participating in a specialized school curriculum. It tested the hypothesis that students who are involved in a specialized curriculum will have more positive interactions with their child during feeding and periods of teaching, and will provide a more positive home environment for their child's development. Findings indicated that mothers involved in the specialized curriculum interacted more effectively during time spent teaching their infant than did mothers involved in the traditional school curriculum. The parenting curriculum also influenced teenage mothers to talk with their child during interactions at home, to structure play periods, and to more consciously encourage child development.