Maternal cognitive mind-mindedness and maternal time as predictors of inhibitory control in toddlerhood

This study examined how maternal cognitive mind-mindedness, maternal time, and their interactions predict inhibitory control in Chinese children. Participants were 88 toddlers (59% girls) and their mothers from Beijing, China. Maternal cognitive mind-mindedness was coded in mother–child interactions and mothers reported weekly interaction duration at 14, 25, and 38 months of children's ages. Children's inhibitory control and language were assessed by age-appropriate standard assessments at 25 and 38 months. Regression analyzes showed that the interactions of cognitive mind-mindedness with maternal time were positively associated with inhibitory control both concurrently and longitudinally, after accounting for children's language and gender. Specifically, for mothers who spent more time with her child, cognitive mind-mindedness positively predicted inhibitory control, whereas for mothers who spent less time with her child, this prediction was non-significant. These findings suggest that spending substantial ‘quality time’ with children is key to facilitating inhibitory control skills in early childhood.