As new to the world as they are, toddlers try to interpret what they see.
New research has shown that the difference between a mother and father’s interaction with their child may influence the baby’s association of particular behavior with the corresponding gender. According to the researchers, this is the first study “to examine differences in a play and care-giving context.”
They used data from 80 families recruited from two small cities in Kansas. Parents and their children were videotaped during a 15-minute parent-child play session and a 10-minute parent-child snack session. The researchers observed the differences in the verbal interactions between the mothers and sons, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and fathers and daughters.
They found that parents and their toddlers’ verbal interaction depended on the situation. During snack sessions, the focus of interaction was on the parents, as they gave instructions and managed the children’s behavior. During playtime, however, the interaction was more child-centered, and interactions between parents and their kids were more equal.
The researchers observed that while the mothers and fathers acted similarly during snack time, they acted differently during playtime. During the play sessions, the fathers were more assertive, whereas the mothers showed more facilitative and cooperative behavior.
The researchers suggested that the children may pick up on these differences and associate them with gender roles in the family—men are more assertive, while women are more flexible and accommodating.
“Such differences may teach children indirect lessons about gender roles and reinforced gender typed patterns of behavior that they then carry into contexts outside of the family,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
To read the research paper, please visit http://www.springerlink.com/content/q261154773764443/fulltext.pdf
New research has shown that the difference between a mother and father’s interaction with their child may influence the baby’s association of particular behavior with the corresponding gender. According to the researchers, this is the first study “to examine differences in a play and care-giving context.”
They used data from 80 families recruited from two small cities in Kansas. Parents and their children were videotaped during a 15-minute parent-child play session and a 10-minute parent-child snack session. The researchers observed the differences in the verbal interactions between the mothers and sons, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and fathers and daughters.
They found that parents and their toddlers’ verbal interaction depended on the situation. During snack sessions, the focus of interaction was on the parents, as they gave instructions and managed the children’s behavior. During playtime, however, the interaction was more child-centered, and interactions between parents and their kids were more equal.
The researchers observed that while the mothers and fathers acted similarly during snack time, they acted differently during playtime. During the play sessions, the fathers were more assertive, whereas the mothers showed more facilitative and cooperative behavior.
The researchers suggested that the children may pick up on these differences and associate them with gender roles in the family—men are more assertive, while women are more flexible and accommodating.
“Such differences may teach children indirect lessons about gender roles and reinforced gender typed patterns of behavior that they then carry into contexts outside of the family,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
To read the research paper, please visit http://www.springerlink.com/content/q261154773764443/fulltext.pdf
