The direct and generalized effects of a short-term, parent-training program on maternal teaching responses, child play behaviors and mother-child interactional style were evaluated. Mothers of developmentally delayed infants, trained through verbal instruction, modeling, and feedback procedures, were shown how to use behavioral techniques in teaching their children a specific set of toy play behaviors. To facilitate generalization of parenting behavior to other play situations, mothers were instructed concerning the general utility of the teaching strategies and required to verbalize how these strategies would be employed in specific role-play situations. The results indicated that the training program was effective in improving maternal teaching behaviors and that generalization of such behavior can be programmed. In addition, there was evidence that positive changes in infant behavior as well as a more responsive and sensitive style of interaction between mother and child occurred as a result of the program. The results were discussed from different procedural and clinical perspectives.
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