Parent-child play and its relationship to cognitive and socioemotional development

Abstract

The objective of this quantitative study was to analyze the relationship between parent-child play (children between six and 18 months of age) and a child’s cognitive and socio-emotional development. As part of the data collection process, a household questionnaire was applied to a sample of 2,052 children that asked about the regular activities and frequency of parent-child play when the children were between six and 18 months of age. Cognitive development was assessed using vocabulary and mathematics tests while socioemotional development was evaluated through different scales that measured levels of agency, pride, self-efficacy and self-esteem at five, eight, twelve and fifteen years of age. The results show increased levels of cognitive and socioemotional development among children who played with both parents on a daily basis when they were infants. The authors conclude that daily play between parents and children promotes cognitive and socioemotional development.