Parent–child interaction, task-oriented regulation, and cognitive development in toddlers facing developmental risks

• This study examined longitudinal relations among parental supportiveness, task-oriented regulation, and cognition.
• Baseline levels of child task-oriented regulation were related to baseline levels of child cognition.
• Growth rates of child task-oriented regulation were related to growth rates of child cognition.

The importance of supportive parent–child interactions and the development of regulatory abilities with regard to growth in children's cognitive abilities has been established. This study investigated the longitudinal relations among parental supportiveness, child task-oriented regulation, and cognitive development for low-income children facing developmental risks. Interlocking growth models were fit to these variables based on measurements made when the children were 14, 24, and 36 months of age. Results showed that growth rates of child cognition were related to baseline (14 months) parental supportiveness and changes in child task-oriented regulation. We additionally found that baseline levels of cognition were related to the baseline levels of child task-oriented regulation. This study suggests that both parental supportiveness during infancy and the concurrent development of child task-oriented regulation are related to cognitive development among children facing developmental risks.