The Effect of an Older Sibling on Infant Locomotor Exploration of a New Environment

Abstract

SAMUELS, H-ELEN R. The Effect of an Older Sibling on Infant Locomotor Exploration of a New Environment. CmLD DEVELOPMENT, 1980, 51, 607-609. 14 23-month-old infants were observed twice, once with and once without their older siblings, to determine the .effect of the older child's presence on infant locomotor exploration. Observations were made as the children played, with mothers present, in the rear yard of a private home. When older siblings were present, infants went farther from their mothers, traversed a larger area of the yard, left their mothers more quickly, and stayed away longer. Although 13 of the 14 infants reached the most distant locations from their mothers as a result of following their siblings, they also showed independent behavior. Furthermore, increased infant locomotor exploration was accompanied by more visual inspection and manipulation of objects at distances exceeding 8 m from the mother. Sibling presence was shown to increase infant locomotor exploration. Other effects of daily exposure to an active and only moderately competent family member are probable, but remain to be studied.