Caregivers’ Verbal and Nonverbal Input on Spanish-English Bilingual Children’s Word Learning

We examined the relation of caregivers’ verbal and nonverbal input on bilingual children’s word learning. 45 caregiver-child dyads (Female=17) were video-recorded (75-minutes). At child-age 18-months (M=18.68; SD=1.12), caregivers’ non-verbal input was coded as communicative hand/head movements (gestures). Caregivers’ verbal input was words used and verbal responses to children’s gestures. At child-age 24-months (M=36.90; SD=0.66), word learning was calculated as words produced (video-recorded, caregiver report). Analyses showed caregivers’ nonverbal input was related to children’s Spanish words (p < 0.05). On-going analyses examine the relation of caregivers’ verbal input on children’s words.