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Theory and research have linked pretend play in early childhood with the development of language and theory of mind. In 102 mother–child dyads at 4.5 years, we examined whether (1) introducing a story stem (a play narrative with socioemotional dilemmas) in a mother–child play context increases pretend play complexity compared with mother–child free play; and (2) maternal sensitivity is associated with pretend play complexity. Further, we explored whether the story stem increased child pretend play complexity more in dyads with mothers with low sensitivity compared with highly sensitive mothers. Sensitivity was coded using Coding Interactive Behavior and pretend play complexity with a global, integrated measure of the developmental level and quantity of play. Using generalized estimating equations, we found that pretend play complexity was positively associated with introducing a story stem and maternal sensitivity. Mixed methods ancova showed no significant interaction between play situation and maternal sensitivity. The findings stress the importance of maternal sensitivity and participation for play and how introducing a story stem may help promote child pretend play complexity., Theory and research have linked pretend play in early childhood with the development of language and theory of mind. In 102 mother–child dyads at 4.5years, we examined whether (1) introducing a story stem (a play narrative with socioemotional dilemmas) in a mother–child play context increases pretendplay complexity compared with mother–child free play; and (2) maternal sensitivity is associated with pretend play complexity. Further, we exploredwhether the story stem increased child pretend play complexity more in dyads with mothers with low sensitivity compared with highly sensitive mothers.Sensitivity was coded using Coding Interactive Behavior and pretend play complexity with a global, integrated measure of the developmental level andquantity of play. Using generalized estimating equations, we found that pretend play complexity was positively associated with introducing a storystemand maternal sensitivity. Mixed methodsANCOVAshowed no significant interaction between play situation and maternal sensitivity. Thefindings stress theimportance of maternal sensitivity and participation for play and how introducing a story stem may help promote child pretend play complexity.Key words: Pretend play, maternal sensitivity, story stem, mother–child play, scaffolding.

Background: Early identification of infants at-risk is imperative for proper referral to intervention programs. The Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) is an eight-item observer-rated screening tool detecting social withdrawal in infants. Previously, a shortened five-item version of the scale (m-ADBB) has been proposed. To date, few studies have examined the validity of the two scales, and no studies have examined the validity of the ADBB after implementation as a universal screening tool in primary care. Objective: The aim of this study is to use Item Response Theory (IRT) to examine the construct validity of the ADBB when used by public health visitors in primary care. Methods: Participants were 24,752 infants (aged: 2-12.9 months) screened by public health visitors using the ADBB. Screenings were categorized into three waves according to the infant's age at the screening time (2-3.9 months, 4-7.9 months, and 8-12.9 months). Analyses were conducted separately on each wave. We checked IRT assumptions: (a) Unidimensionality, (b) Monotonicity, (c) Local independence, and (d) No DIF in relation to infant sex and gestational age. The 2PLM was used to assess model fit and estimate model parameters. Results: Items fulfilled assumptions regarding unidimensionality, monotonicity, and no clinical and significant DIF. Local independence was not present for all items (i.e. 2, 7, and 8). The items showed moderate to good discriminatory abilities (alpha values ≥ 1.11) and discriminated best above average levels of social withdrawal (theta values ≥ 1.33). Items 7 and 8 showed nearly identical ICC suggesting that the two items discriminate equally well at the same level of social withdrawal. In addition, items 4 and 6 discriminated best at very high levels of social withdrawal, which might be of limited interest for screening purposes. Finally, the items showed similar patterns in terms of discrimination and location parameters across the three waves. Conclusions: The ADBB shows

Parental reflective functioning (PRF) refers to the parent's capacity to envision mental states in the infant and in themselves as a parent, and to link such underlying mental process with behavior, which is important for parenting sensitivity and child socio-emotional development. Current findings have linked maternal postpartum depression to impaired reflective skills, imposing a risk on the developing mother-infant relationship, but findings are mixed, and studies have generally used extensive methods for investigating PRF. The present study examined the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Danish version of the 18-item self-report Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ) in a sample of mothers with and without diagnosed postpartum depression. Moreover, the association between PRF and maternal postpartum depression in mothers with and without comorbid symptoms of personality disorder and/or clinical levels of psychological distress was investigated. Participants included 423 mothers of infants aged 1-11 months. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure of the PRFQ; however, item loadings suggested that a 15-item version was a more accurate measure of PRF in mothers of infants. Multi-group factor analysis of the 15-item PRFQ infant version indicated measurement invariance among mothers with and without diagnosed postpartum depression. Multinomial logistic regression showed that impaired PRF was associated with maternal psychopathology, although only for mothers with postpartum depression combined with other symptoms of psychopathology. These results provide new evidence for the assessment of maternal self-reported reflective skills as measured by a modified infant version of the PRFQ, as well as a more nuanced understanding of how variance in symptomatology is associated with impaired PRF in mothers in the postpartum period in differing ways.