Self-control is repeatedly found to be vital for success in relationships, work and even for good mental health.
Four decades of research reveal that people whose fathers played with them more as children grow up with stronger self-control.
Up to the age of three, playtime with Dad seems to have a particularly beneficial effect.
Men tend to play in more physical ways, the researchers found, including giving piggy-back rides, tickling and chasing.
This may help children learn to control their feelings.
As a result, they may find it easier to regulate their behaviour later in life.
Self-control is repeatedly found to be vital for success in relationships, work and even for good mental health.
Professor Paul Ramchandani, the study’s first author, said:
“It’s important not to overstate the impact of father-child play as there are limits to what the research can tell us, but it does seem that children who get a reasonable amount of playtime with their father benefit as a group.”
Four decades of evidence
The conclusions come from a review of 78 separate studies carried out over four decades.
The results showed that most fathers play with their children every day.
However, fathers tend to play more physically with their children.
With babies, fathers tend to lift them up more, while with toddlers they engage in more rough-and-tumble play.
The researchers found that children who played more with their fathers were less likely to develop emotional and behavioural problems later in life and were also at lower risk of hyperactivity.
Professor Ramchandani said:
“Physical play creates fun, exciting situations in which children have to apply self-regulation.
You might have to control your strength, learn when things have gone too far — or maybe your father steps on your toe by accident and you feel cross!
It’s a safe environment in which children can practise how to respond. If they react the wrong way, they might get told off, but it’s not the end of the world — and next time they might remember to behave differently.”
Mothers can, of course, support physical play, just the same as fathers, said Professor Ramchandani:
“One of the things that our research points to time and again is the need to vary the types of play children have access to, and mothers can, of course, support physical play with young children as well.
Different parents may have slightly different inclinations when it comes to playing with children, but part of being a parent is stepping outside your comfort zone.
Children are likely to benefit most if they are given different ways to play and interact.”
Related
The study was published in the journal Developmental Review (Amodia-Bidakowska et al., 2020).
