This study aimed at analyzing the relation between language and play in initial stages of development. An empirical research with 30 dyads mother-baby of lower and middle classes in the city of Rio de Janeiro, was performed. The babies were 20 months old. Babies’ play (alone and with their mothers) were observed, registered in video, and classified according to their functional/symbolic characteristics. Babies’ language production was measured using the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory. The analysis made also involved cognitive and affective aspects of mother’s talk and her educational level. It was not found correlations between the two domains, inducing discussions about both the interrelation between cognitive domains, and methodological issues. However, an important aspect was verified with relation to collaborative: play in 20 months old babies with mother’s participation, gains in duration and complexity. Perhaps, this result points to the maternal influence in the development of play ability.
play development; language development; mother-infant interaction
