The Effects of Play Related to Toddlers' Temperaments on Child-Rearing Anxiety or Satisfaction through the Rearers' Own Evaluation of How to Cope with Their Children's Play

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to a) investigate the relationship between toddlers' temperaments and play and b) discuss the possibility that frequency of play related to the toddlers temperament influences child-rearing anxiety or satisfaction, through the child-rearers' self-evaluation of the way they coped with their children's play. Results showed that negative affect reactions, extroversion, or distractibility were related to play involving interaction with the adult, and high frequency of this play decreased child-rearing anxiety or improved child-rearing satisfaction. On the other hand, sensitivity was inversely proportional to sensory motor play; therefore, this play did not correspond to sensitivity. However, high frequency of sensory motor play improved child-rearing satisfaction. Neither adaptability nor rhythmicity influenced child-rearing anxiety or satisfaction according to the child-rearers' self-evaluation.