Mother‐child play interaction in neglecting and non‐neglecting mothers

Neglecting and non‐neglecting mothers and their oneto three‐year‐old children were observed during unstructured play interaction in the family home. Neglecting mothers were less positive in their responsiveness to their children than non‐neglecting mothers. They were also less competent in the developmental appropriateness of their play interactions. Connections between mother‐child interactions and secure attachment in infancy are drawn. Implications for designing interventions with neglecting mothers are discussed.