The magic of play: Low income mothers’ and fathers’ playfulness and children’s emotion regulation and vocabulary skills
Cabrera, N. J., Karberg, E., Malin, J. L. and Aldoney, D. (2017). Infant Ment. Health J., 38: 757–771. doi:10.1002/imhj.21682
Although play is important for children’s development, the way in which mothers’ and fathers’ play affect their children may differ. This study of 73 low-income families participating in the Early Start Research Evaluation Project found that paternal playfulness with toddlers was associated with improved pre-kindergarten vocabulary skills while maternal playfulness with toddlers was associated with improved emotional regulation in children.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/imhj.21682/abstract?campaign=woletoc