Infant /Toddler HOME Inventory

Bettye M.Caldwell and Robert H. Bradley, 1984

  • Mark 1 for yes or 0 for no in front of each observation. *Items in yellow administered

I Responsivity / 24 / Child has a special place for toys and treasures.
1 / Parent spontaneously vocalizes to child at least twice. / 25 / Child's play environment is safe.
2 / Parent responds verbally to child 's vocalization or verbalization. / IV Learning Materials
3 / Parent tells child name of object or person during visit. / 26 / Muscles activity toys or equipment. ( e.g. Bat, ball, rattle hopping rope , rocking horse etc.)
4 / Parent's speech is distinct, clear and audible. / 27 / Push or pull toys (e.g. Wooden cart any Box with string, shoe with string and swing .)
5 / Parent initiates verbal interchanges with visitor. / 28 / Stroller or walker, kiddie car, scooter, or tricycle.(e.g Hand made wooden walker, car, locally made pulling car with sounds .)
6 / Parent converses freely and easily. / 29 / Parent provides toys for child to play with during visit.
7 / Parent permits child to engage in "messy" play. / 30 / Cuddly toy or role-playing toys.
( e.g. Hand made dolls or toys made by clothes or cotton, playing house, which made by mud or hard paper.)
8 / Parent spontaneously praises child at least twice. / 31 / Learning facilitators---- mobile, table and chair, high chair, play pen.
(e.g. Slate , Chalk , Coal)
9 / Parent's voice conveys positive feelings towards child. / 32 / Simple eye -hand coordination toys.( e.g. Ball, rattle. Doll, Marbles Putting stones any small objects in a box )
10 / Parents caresses or kisses child at least once. / 33 / Complex eye -hand coordination toys.( e.g. Clay toys , Block design; organization of playing stuff according to their color size and shape like jigsaw puzzles)
11 / Parent responds positively to praise of child offered by visitor. / 34 / Toys for literature and music.
For infant :rattle ,for toddler cup and spoon to make sounds ,Book )
II Acceptance / V. Involvement
12 / Parent does not shout at child. / 35 / Parent keeps child in visual range, looks at often.
13 / Parent does not express overt annoyance with or hostility to child / 36 / Parent talks to child while doing household work.
14 / Parent either slaps nor spanks child during visit / 37 / Parent consciously encourages developmental advance.
15 / No more than 1 instance of physical punishment during past week
For Infant: During last week mother ignore the child e.g. Mother did not feed child on time. / 38 / Parent invites maturing toys with value via personal attention.
16 / Parent does not scold or criticize child during visit. / 39 / Parent structures child's play periods.
17 / Parent does not interfere with or restrict child 3 times during visit. / 40 / Parent provides toys that challenge child to develop new skills
18 / At least 10 books are present and visible.( e.g.: Holy book, Magazines, newspapers ,Calendars, Posters and any print material ) / VI Variety
19 / Family has a pet. / 41 / Father provides some care daily.
III Organization / 42 / Parent read stories to child at least 3 times weekly.
20 / Child care , if used , is provided by one of three regular substitutes. / 43 / Child eats at least one meal a day with mother and father.
21 / Child is taken to grocery store at least once a week. / 44 / Family visits relatives or receives visits once month or so.
22 / Child gets out of houses at least once a week.
For Infant: Child is taken to open area at least once a week. / 45 / Child has 3 or more books of his /her own
23 / Child is taken regularly to doctor's office or clinic / I / II / III / IV / V / VI
Totals

Child's name ------Father's name: ------

1H.O.M.E. OBSERVATION INSTRUCTIONS

1.1.1Guidelines for individual items:

  1. Parent spontaneously vocalizes to child at least twice. “Vocalizes refers to any sounds or words emitted by the parent. Exclude scolding. In order for this item to be scored as YES, the parent’s vocalizations must have occurred spontaneously as opposed to in response to some vocalization by the child.
  1. Parent responds verbally to child’s vocalizations or verbalizations. The key factor here is that the parent is responding to the child’s vocalizations, not ignoring it. If the child does not vocalize during the interview, thereby denying the mother an opportunity to respond, the score would still be NO.
  1. Parent tells child name of object or person during visit. The parent does not have to say, “that’s an apple” in order to be scored YES on this item. What is being measured here is the adult’s sensitivity to the child’s search for labels of objects around her/him. Credit for this item may be earned by a pattern of emphasis with the voice.
  1. Parent’s speech is distinct, clear, and audible. A score of YES on this item is determined by whether the interviewer is able to understand what the mother says. What is important is whether the interviewer can understand and communicate with the mother.
  1. Parent initiates verbal interchanges with the visitor. In order to receive a score of YES on this item the parent must demonstrate some initiative in asking two or three questions or making comments that go beyond the bare minimum needed to give an answer.
  1. Parent converses freely and easily. A NO would be given to a person who tends to speak in one word sentences or to use headshakes when they would do. The characteristic speech pattern should be noted.
  1. Parent spontaneously praises child at least twice. Credit is given for praising child’s qualities or behavior. Do not hesitate to read the mother’s affect; any achievement reported with pride should count.
  1. Parent’s voice conveys positive feelings toward child. Look for evidence that the mother feels good about her child: sounds animated when she speaks about her/him, does not use a flat tone of voice.
  1. Parent caresses or kisses child at least once. “Caresses” include a hug, a stroke of the hair, patting an arm or leg, reaching out affectionately and touching the face, etc. Blowing a kiss as well as actually establishing physical contact may be counted as a kiss.
  1. Parent responds positively to praise of child offered by visitor. A YES would be given for mother agreeing with you, adding more facts to encourage you further, beaming, etc. Sometimes you will get little more than a “thank you” said with little feeling or an embarrassed smile. If so, find more than one occasion to praise the child. If you consistently get a response that shows no feeling or pleasure, then score NO. Be alert to observe the mother’s facial expression when you offer a remark.
  1. Parent does not shout at child. A YES on this item requires that the mother does not raise her voice to a level above that required by the distance between parent and child.
  1. Parent does not express overt annoyance with or hostility toward child. A NO would be given for a parent that complains that the child is hard to take care of, that the child is wearing her out, or that the child is bad.
  1. Parent neither slaps nor spanks the child during the visit. Occasionally the observer may feel that it is hard to know whether a parent is playing or seriously slapping or spanking a child. The best guide to use in such instances is the child’s behavior. If the child reacts with pleasure or happiness, chances are that this represents a style of positive interaction between mother and child. If the child frowns, looks unhappy, or whimpers or cries, score NO accordingly.
  1. Parent does not scold or criticize child during the visit. This item is similar to item 12 above. The main difference is that on this item the mother must make the negative remark, such as “You are a bad boy,” directly to the child. If such a remark is made even once, score NO; otherwise score YES.
  1. Parent does not interfere with or restrict child more than three times during visit. Restrictions and interferences may be verbal or physical. For example, taking a toy away from a child or saying "Stop that.” Do not code as interference any action taken to prevent the child from harming herself.
  1. Parent provides toys for child to play with during the visit. In order to receive a YES, the mother must make some special effort to see to it that the child has something interesting to do during the time she will be talking to the interviewer.
  1. Parent keeps child in visual range, looks at often. “Often” means frequently enough to ensure safety of the child and to keep some kind of interpersonal contact with her/him.