ROCHESTER, NY—Research has long shown that parental involvement in children’s play provides a significant influence on cognitive, social, and emotional development. While their role is less studied, grandparents play a crucial role, too, according to an article in the latest issue of the peer-reviewed American Journal of Play. Authors Ozlem Cankaya, Salim Hashmi, and Dana Haugen argue that grandparents provide intergenerational learning opportunities that provide important emotional security.
The authors write, “Children playing with grandparents has been found to have a unique dynamic compared to playing with their parents, characterized in particular by a mutual enjoyment of the interaction.” They argue that grandparents emphasize love and bonding in their play, which is important for children to develop social and emotional skills.
In a 2018 study, grandchildren reported that playing with grandparents makes them feel good and extremely happy.
Playing with grandparents also passes along cultural heritage and collective history, creating stronger intergenerational connections. This not only benefits the child, but it benefits the grandparents, as well. They gain from this physical activity, social engagement, and bonding.
The authors conclude, “These findings highlight the broader significance of grandparents beyond care giving, positioning them as mentors and emotional anchors in children’s lives.”
The complete issue of the American Journal of Play can be read freely online. Additional interviews and articles include:
- Playing with Sound: An Interview with Shelley Roden
- Whitehead’s “Freedom and Order” and the Homo Ludens Hypothesis in Education by Daniel A. Dombrowski
- Children’s Peer Cooperative Problem Solving During Play in Preschool: A Systematic Literature Review by Meilan Jin
- Feminist Pinball: How Women Are Changing Competitive Play and the Industry by Ryan Banfi
About the American Journal of Play
The American Journal of Play is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary publication that serves as a forum for discussing the history, science, and culture of play. Published three times each year by The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, the Journal includes articles, interviews, and book reviews written for a broad readership that includes educators, psychologists, play therapists, sociologists, anthropologists, folklorists, historians, museum professionals, toy and game designers, policy makers, and others who consider play for a variety of reasons and from various perspectives.
