ERIC Number: EJ1140349
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
EISSN: N/A
Children's Engagement in Play at Home: A Parent's Role in Supporting Play Opportunities during Early Childhood
LaForett, Doré R.; Mendez, Julia L.
Early Child Development and Care, v187 n5-6 p910-923 2017
This study examined parents' developmentally appropriate beliefs about young children's play and parents' views on their child's play skills. This exploratory secondary data analysis was drawn from data on low-income African-American and Latino parents and their children (n = 109) participating in Head Start programmes in the USA. Compared with African-American parents, Latino parents were more likely to endorse play as valuable (Play Support) for promoting preschool children's social skills and school readiness, yet were also more likely to see play as not as important as academic readiness activities (Academic Focus). Parental endorsement of Play Support beliefs positively related to children's interactive play skills; Academic Focus beliefs negatively related to interactive play. These relations emerged for African American, but not Latino, children. Implications for understanding how culture may intersect with parents' play beliefs, opportunities to promote children's play competence, and alignment with play-based pedagogies are discussed.
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Play, Parent Role, Learner Engagement, Family Environment, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Beliefs, Parent Attitudes, African American Students, Hispanic American Students, Interpersonal Competence, Skill Development, Low Income Groups, Racial Differences, Student Characteristics, Age Differences, Gender Differences, Likert Scales, Regression (Statistics), Interviews, Statistical Analysis
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: US Department of Health and Human Services
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 90YF0069; 90YF0069/01