The present study examined the physical growth, cognitive development and time use of 23 children between 12 and 35 months, residing in a babyhome in Tanzania, East Africa. The outcomes of the...Show moreThe present study examined the physical growth, cognitive development and time use of 23 children between 12 and 35 months, residing in a babyhome in Tanzania, East Africa. The outcomes of the physical assessments of weight, height and head circumference were compared with the growth standards of the World Health Organization. The cognitive performance on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development was compared with the norm scores of the test. Time use was examined by spot observations and had the objective of getting insight on how the children spent their time and how many social interactions they have. Relations between the outcome variables have also been investigated. The results of the study showed that children residing in the Tanzanian babyhome lag behind in physical growth (weight, height and head circumference) and cognitive development. We found that the babies (aged 11.8 – 13.7 months) were on average more delayed in their physical growth compared with the toddlers (aged 15.2 – 34.1 months). Regarding time use we found that for all ages combined, the children spent on average 53.4% of the time they were awake, alone (without any interactions). Babies (63.7%) spent significantly more time alone than toddlers (48.5%). It was also demonstrated that the time children spent alone, was associated with the physical growth. Children who spent more time alone, were more delayed in height.Show less