This study investigated maternal perceptions of infant intentional communicative ability. Researchs highlight the impact of these perceptions on the interactions established between mother and baby and their repercussions on language development and infant social cognition. The study included 40 mothers of babies aged 4 and 9 months. The results show variations in maternal perceptions about infants' intentional communicative abilities. Maternal reports about babies 9 months demonstrate the use of intentional communicative resources expressed by vocalizations, gaze alternation and pointing gesture. We discuss the implications of these perceptions in adult-child interactions, in child sociocomunicativo development and in contexts of child development and education.
maternal perceptions; communicative intentionality; babies; early development
