Understanding how infants learn and develop through play.

Play & Learning Across a Year (PLAY)

NIH-funded research New York University · NIH-10630902

The PLAY project is looking at how babies aged 12 to 24 months grow and learn through play by watching videos of their interactions with their moms, which will help us understand how their communication and emotions develop in different settings.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10630902 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The PLAY project investigates behavioral development in infants aged 12 to 24 months, a crucial time for language, movement, and emotional growth. By utilizing video recordings of natural interactions between infants and their mothers, researchers will analyze behaviors such as communication, gestures, and emotional responses. This large-scale project aims to create a comprehensive video database that will help identify patterns in infant development and the impact of different environments. The findings could lead to new insights into how play influences learning and development during early childhood.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are infants aged 12 to 24 months and their mothers, particularly those from diverse backgrounds.

Not a fit: Patients who are outside the age range of 12 to 24 months or do not have a mother or caregiver available for participation may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of infant development and inform strategies to support healthy growth in early childhood.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully utilized video analysis to study child development, indicating that this approach is promising and builds on established methodologies.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Mental disordersMental health disordersPsychiatric DiseasePsychiatric Disorderpsychological disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.