A Pilot Study of Intervention with Adolescent Mothers and their Children

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Abstract
The present pilot study examined the effects of an intervention program designed for adolescent mothers and their young children on selected developmental skills in children. The intervention aimed to enhance the development of the children through a curriculum that focused on improving mother-child interaction skills and the mothers' knowledge of child development. Participants were 62 mothers enrolled in an alternative education school and their children. The children's performances on the Developmental Activities Screening Inventory-II (DASI-II) and on the Play Assessment Scale (PAS) were videotaped pre- and postintervention. Child outcomes were scored on the DASI-II and the PAS. On both measures, children in the intervention group made significantly greater gains than those in the contrast group. The potential of short-term intervention programs are discussed, as are the limitations of this investigation.