Investigation of the effect of game-based language learning program on the development of 12-24 month-old babies

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the game-based language learning program on the development of 12-24 month-old babies. Material and method: The study was conducted with mothers with 12-24 month old babies living in the city center of Bingöl between March 2022 and June 2022 as an experimental design with pretest, posttest and retention test control group. The study was completed with 46 mothers (21 application group, 25 control group) with babies aged between 12-24 months. Data were collected using Personal Information Form, Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory (AGTE), Turkish Communicative Development Inventory (TIGE I-II), and Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale. The 12-session Game-Based Language Learning Program was applied to the mothers in the application group, but no application was made to the mothers in the control group. In the analysis of the data, Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the pre-test measurements of the application and control groups. Freidman Test was used to examine the differences between the pretest-posttest-permanence test measurements within the application group. In case of differences between tests, Wilcoxon test was used to determine between which tests the differences were. In the control group, Wilcoxon Test was used to compare the changes between the pre-test and post-test. While frequency analysis was used to determine the distribution of demographic information of the participants and their families, Chi-Square analysis was used to examine the differences in these distributions between the groups. Result: While a significant difference in the AGTE, TIGE I-II total scores of the babies were determined (p<0.05) in the application group; no significant difference was found in the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (p>0.05). In the control group, it was concluded that there was no significant difference in AGTE, TIGE I-II and Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale. Conclusion: It has been revealed that the game-based language learning program has a positive effect on the development of 12-24 month-old babies. Keywords: Mother Education, Infancy Period, Language development, Game, Game Based Support