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<p>Using objects symbolically to represent something absent is a crucial milestone in child development, enabling new forms of communication and interaction. We conducted a longitudinal 9-month follow-up of 6 children with Down syndrome (DS) to identify the onset, characteristics, and developmental changes of the first symbolic uses (SU). We video-recorded each child at 12, 15, 18, and 21&#xa0;months during interactions with their mothers and five different objects. A microgenetic analysis of the child–adult-object triad was performed, and SU frequencies were analyzed for each age group using binomial to verify the existence of statistically significant differences between frequencies in SU complexity and their initiation. We found that SUs that are closely related to conventional object uses, specifically those at the least complex level, for example when an empty spoon is used as a spoon for ‘eating’, are statistically more frequent than those at higher complexity levels, such as those involving object substitution (e.g., using a spoon as a comb). Mothers tend to initiate SUs at 12 and 15&#xa0;months; however, other SUs are more frequently initiated by children at 18 and 21&#xa0;months. There are marked qualitative and quantitative inter- and intra-subject differences regarding the complexity of SUs, their frequency, and the time at which they first appear. Recommendations are proposed for implementation in contexts such as early childhood education, home, and clinical practice.</p>

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First symbolic uses of objects in children with Down syndrome between the ages of 12 and 21 months: A longitudinal study in context of triadic interactions: child–adult-object

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月5日

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  • Karina Cárdenas,
  • Cintia Rodríguez,
  • Edgardo Miranda-Zapata,
  • Pedro Palacios

摘要

Using objects symbolically to represent something absent is a crucial milestone in child development, enabling new forms of communication and interaction. We conducted a longitudinal 9-month follow-up of 6 children with Down syndrome (DS) to identify the onset, characteristics, and developmental changes of the first symbolic uses (SU). We video-recorded each child at 12, 15, 18, and 21 months during interactions with their mothers and five different objects. A microgenetic analysis of the child–adult-object triad was performed, and SU frequencies were analyzed for each age group using binomial to verify the existence of statistically significant differences between frequencies in SU complexity and their initiation. We found that SUs that are closely related to conventional object uses, specifically those at the least complex level, for example when an empty spoon is used as a spoon for ‘eating’, are statistically more frequent than those at higher complexity levels, such as those involving object substitution (e.g., using a spoon as a comb). Mothers tend to initiate SUs at 12 and 15 months; however, other SUs are more frequently initiated by children at 18 and 21 months. There are marked qualitative and quantitative inter- and intra-subject differences regarding the complexity of SUs, their frequency, and the time at which they first appear. Recommendations are proposed for implementation in contexts such as early childhood education, home, and clinical practice.