Trajectories of parents' gendered play attitudes during early childhood and implications for children's gender development

Abstract

This study examined associations between parents' gendered attitudes about play and children's gender development. The sample was 501 families from a large US city followed annually for 4 years (501 mothers, 383 fathers; 69% White, 16% Latinx, 8% African American; children Mage = 5.67 months, 53% boys). Latent trajectories examined change in parents' attitudes toward same‐ and other‐gender play during first 4 years of the child's life. On a subsample (n = 252), trajectories were examined in relation to children's later gender‐typed preferences and gender constancy. Parents grew more gender‐flexible in their attitudes, particularly parents of boys. Trajectories reflecting more stereotypic attitudes showed some associations (small in magnitude) with children's gender‐typed preferences and gender constancy by age 4.

Parents’ judgments of children’s gender-typed play indicate qualities of the early-life caregiving environment.

“…While less involved in structuring children’s overall environments, fathers do spend considerable caregiving time in recreation and play. In these recreational contexts specifically, fathers’ attitudes toward gendered play have been shown to be relatively impactful on children’s own behaviors and attitudes (McHale et al, 2003; Rogers et al, in press).…”

“…Most studies have examined parent’s attitudes toward gender-typed play because of the implications for transmitting gendered attitudes to children (e.g., Rogers et al, in press). However, these findings support a novel hypothesis that resistance to gender stereotypes about play may be more broadly beneficial.…”