The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of maternal interaction styles to the
development of a sample of 56 toddlers (19 low risk, 37 high risk) seen at 12 and 24 months of
age. At 12 months, videotapes of mother–child interaction were coded for directiveness,
sensitivity, and elaborativeness. At 12 and 24 months, cognitive and language measures were
collected. A directive maternal style was negatively correlated with sensitivity and
elaborativeness, whereas sensitive and elaborative ratings were positively correlated, suggesting
a facilitative style. Regression models significantly predicted receptive language and cognitive
development at 24 months but not expressive language. Maternal directiveness at 12 months was
negatively related to later receptive language skills, whereas elaborativeness at 12 months was
positively predictive of later cognitive development. Child status variables and maternal
interactional styles contributed about equally to the prediction of later cognitive and language
outcomes.