The Toddler Language and Motor Questionnaire: A mother-report measure of language and motor development

• The TLMQ is a mother report measure of toddlers language and motor development.
• Divergent–convergent correlations emerged between the TLMQ and individually administered tests.
• There are two correlated motor and language factors in the TLMQ, same for boys and girls.
• Young children's motor and language development can be reliably and validly assessed by mothers.

This study empirically evaluates the psychometric properties of a new mother-answered developmental instrument for toddlers, the Toddler Language and Motor Questionnaire (TLMQ). Mothers of 1132 15- to 38-month-old children filled out a 144-item instrument, tapping the toddlers’ competences in five language and motor subtests. Concurrent validity was investigated in an independent sample by administering the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA) individually to 47 children and the TLMQ to their mothers. A two-factor solution emerged in principal axis factor analyses with a promax rotation, with motor subtests loading high on one of the factors and the language subtests on the other. Toddlers’ genders significantly affected outcome on all of the five subtests. Divergent and convergent correlations emerged between the TLMQ's motor composite and scales of the MSCA. Partially convergent and divergent correlations emerged between the TLMQ's language composite and scales of the MSCA. The findings show that young children's motor and language development can be reliably and validly assessed by using a psychometrically constructed questionnaire completed by mothers.