Relations between parental opinions and attitudes about child rearing and play

Investigated the relationships between play and family environmental conditions in a survey of 67 Dutch mothers (aged 23–35 yrs) of preschool children (aged 20–24 mo). Variables included parents' child-rearing orientation and play concept, the degree to which and reasons why they believe play is important, the way they intend to stimulate play, and the way they experience characteristics of their children. The play concept was wide, with 32 of 40 common child activities considered to be play forms by most parents. Play was estimated as being of great importance for child development, and culturally oriented parents tended to show the highest interest in play. There were more relations between perceived educational tasks, the way children are experienced, and opinions about play than between those factors and intentions of play stimulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved