Predicting peer competence and peer relationships in childhood from early parent-child relationships

Observations of Amy at 12 months of age with her mother, Susan, revealed a well-coordinated pair. Susan was attentive to her daughter’s activities as she explored the environment of a playroom. She responded with an encouraging word or a smile, for instance, as Amy exclaimed and pointed to a newly discovered toy. She was reassuring when Amy was momentarily distracted by the sudden movement of the camera’s selffocusing lens. Susan seemed content to watch Amy’s explorations, rather than join in or direct them. There was a smooth, relaxed interchange between the two as Amy picked up each toy, examined it, mouthed or shook it, and occasionally looked over her shoulder to smile at Susan and display a new discovery. @copy; 1992 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.