Verbal Comprehension in Four‐Year‐Olds as a Function of Maternal Age

Several research studies have shown that children of older mothers perform better on tests of cognitive ability than do children of younger mothers. These differences are not attributed to age per se but to possible differences in home environment and#shor childrearing practices. The aim of this study was to examine one test of children's cognitive ability, verbal comprehension, and to look at mother#shchild interactions on a book sharing task, in relation to maternal age. Four‐year‐old children of mothers aged 35 and over at the birth of the target child, were compared with children of average age mothers [aged 20‐29 at the birth of the target child]. Half the four‐year‐olds were first borns, half were later borns. Children of older mothers scored significantly higher on the verbal comprehension test but maternal age differences were not found on the book sharing task.The possible relationship between maternal age, verbal comprehension and home environment was discussed.