Mothers' and Fathers' Perceptions of Children's Play

This qualitative study explored mothers' and fathers' perspectives on children's play through semi-structured interviews. Fifteen fathers and 19 mothers were interviewed using open-ended questions. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using open coding. Several themes emerged related to the definition of play, use of play, play activities, and positive and negative aspects of play. Mothers mentioned (1) play as a learning and teaching tool, (2) play as a soothing and relaxing way to improve children's self-regulation, and (3) concerns about their children imitating bad behaviors and injuring themselves during play. In contrast, fathers (1) engaged in more physical play (including rough and tumble play), (2) regarded screen time play more positively, (3) emphasized social learning through play, and (4) were more concerned about children's socially inappropriate behaviors during play. This study suggests the importance of considering differences in the perceptions of fathers and mothers when engaging children in play activities at home, school, and in the community.