Let's Cross the Next One: Parental Scaffolding of Prospective Control Over Movement. Issue 2 (25th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Neal, Elizabeth E.; Zhou, Shiwen; Jiang, Yuanyuan; Kearney, Joseph K.; Plumert, Jodie M.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 92:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: e173
• Page End: e185
• Publication Date: 2020-08-25
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13457
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : This investigation examined parental scaffolding of children's prospective control over decisions and actions during a joint perception‐action task. Parents and their 6‐, 8‐, 10‐, and 12‐year‐old children ( N = 128) repeatedly crossed a virtual roadway together. Guidance and control shifted from the parent to the child with increases in child age. Parents more often chose the gap that was crossed and prospectively communicated the gap choice with younger than older children. Greater use of an anticipatory gap selection strategy by parents predicted more precise timing of entry into the gap by children. This work suggests that social interaction may serve as an important experiential mechanism for the development of prospective control over decisions and actions in the perception–action domain.