Teaching contingent vocal imitation of infants using Cool versus Not Cool™: A brief asynchronous responsive caregiving training

Abstract

Global public health organizations such as The World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund have prioritized environmental support for infants in their first 1000 days of life, including interventions that target early childhood development (ECD) outcomes. Responsive caregiving practices and interventions that support parents in engaging in them have a positive effect on ECD outcomes. Behavioral research has identified a number of specific caregiver responses that influence infants' early language development, including contingent vocal imitation. This study examined the effects of a brief, asynchronous online parent training using the Cool versus Not Cool™ procedure to teach two mothers and one father to imitate their infants' vocalizations in their natural home settings. All three parents increased the percentage of contingent vocalizations with their infants and positive changes in vocal behavior were observed for all the three infants.