ABSTRACT
A recent clinical report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics focused on the importance of play in promoting healthy child development and strong parent-child bonds. The authors stated,
This statement implies that parent-child play provides benefits and promotes well-being in adults as well as their children. The report mirrors findings from family studies and child development literature that document play-derived gains in cognitive competencies and increased school motivation (Fantuzzo & McWayne, 2002; Fantuzzo, Sekino, & Cohen, 2004; Raver & Ziegler, 1997; Wentzel, 1999), self-advocacy skills (Hurwitz, 2002-2003; McElwain & Volling, 2005), physical health (Campbell & Hesketh, 2007; Cleland & Venn, 2010), as well as social-emotional benefits of child and peer play (Barnett, 1990; Coolahan, Fantuzzo, Mendez, & McDermott, 2000; Fisher,
1992; Pellegrini & Smith, 1998) and family play (e.g. Elkind, 2007; Frost, 2012; Reading, 2007; Roggman, Boyce, Cook, Christiansen, & Jones, 2004; Stevenson & Crnic, 2013; TamisLeMonda, Shannon, Cabrera, & Lamb, 2004; Tsao, 2002; Wong, Weiyi, Song, Strober, & Golinkoff, 2008). However, contemporary family lifestyles (e.g. dual-earner parents) and technologybased forms of entertainment and socializing have been associated with increases in children’s and adults’ sedentary behaviors, poorer diets, and other health problems (Frost & Brown, 2009). Children’s mental and emotional health may also be negatively affected by increased multi-media involvement and decreases in outdoor or free play (Gray, 2011; Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010; Sax, 2007). Evidence of the benefits of play for children is abundant (e.g. Brown, 2009; Frost, Wortham, & Reifel, 2012), but limited research has examined how family play and leisure activities may contribute to parents’ socio-emotional well-being. The current study employs a mixed-methods design to explore these associations.
