Precursors of narrative abilities Non-present talk, temporality development and topic elaboration in early parent-child interaction

It is important to pinpoint precursors that predict later narrative skills. This study explores and attempts to clarify the role of three aspects assumed to be relevant for later narrative abilities. Data of three middle class Dutch children are analyzed. The design combines the assessment of narrative abilities at age seven with the analysis of spontaneous parent-child interaction between the ages of 1;9 and 3;9. Results suggest specific relationships between on the one hand parental verbal behavior in non-present talk (NPT) and one facet of narrative abilities, that is narrative productivity; and on the other hand between child factors, such as initiating behavior and early temporality development, and another facet of narrative abilities: complex narrative language. The study suggests implications for working with children with a language delay such as using NPT to elicit child initiatives in NPT, and stimulate children’s topic elaboration.