Playing With Daddy: Social Toy Play, Early Head Start, and Developmental Outcomes

Abstract

Research on fathers in Early Head Start (EHS) has provided an opportunity to study fathers from low-income families. We examined father-toddler social toy play in relation to EHS enrollment, fathers' psychosocial well-being, and children's developmental outcomes in a sample of 74 father-toddler dyads. Overall, our results show that father-toddler social toy play was more complex among fathers in an EHS program than among those in a comparison group. Greater complexity in father-toddler social toy play predicted better cognitive and social developmental outcomes for young children, especially in the program group, but it was limited by fathers' psychosocial well-being in the comparison group and by time availability in the program group. Nevertheless, the impact of EHS on father-toddler play suggests that an early intervention that targets father involvement can influence positive father-toddler interactions in ways that enhance early development.

Multiple Measures of Family and Social Support as Predictors of Psychological Well-Being: An Additive Approach

“…The results that father's bonding was not related to either psychological well-being or self-confidence was not expected especially since scores met the cutoff criteria for perceived father's emotional support. The results were unexpected because, fathers play a fundamental role in their young and adolescent children's development and provide great opportunities for them as well (Roggman, Boyce, Cook, Christiansen, & Jones, 2004;Zimmerman, Salem, & Notaro, 2001). Their support, love and influence in their children's development are unique and distinct from that of a mother, according to reviews of the child development literature (Cabrera, Tamis-LeMonda, Bradley, Hofferth, & Lamb, 2000;Pleck & Masciadrelli, 2004;Rohner & Veneziano, 2001).…”

Interactions of fathers and their children with autism1

“…Mothers, on the other hand, spend more time talking to their children and initiate playing activities which are clearly educational in nature. However, as noted by Roggman et al (2004), father-child interactions are more than just a source of joy and pleasure. They can also play an important role in supporting the child's development.…”

The Associations Between Socioeconomic Status, Allostatic Load and Measures of Health in Older Taiwanese Persons: Taiwan Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study

“…24 -26 Although both nonmarried and married couples tend to have high initial expectations for paternal involvement, 27 nonmarried father involvement generally declines until only about a third are regularly involved with their schoolage and teenage children. 28 Pediatric clinicians may be well positioned to increase the quality (and possibly even the duration) of father involvement in nonmarital families, but (1) what interventions are most helpful, (2) to whom such interventions should be directed, and (3) when such interventions should occur are unknown. We conducted a study that begins to erect a framework by which such questions might be answered.…”

“…Father involvement has been associated with increased breastfeeding; improved childhood social, cognitive, and emotional outcomes; less childhood depression and anxiety; and fewer childhood delinquent behaviors. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Moreover, fathers' time with children has been generally increasing, 10,11 with evidence of paternal engagement and responsibility increasing as well. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has encouraged pediatric clinicians to actively support and promote fathers' involvement in their children's care and development.…”