Parent-toddler play interactions with feminine sex-typed toys

Abstract

Parents and toddlers have been observed in a variety of situations. In this study, forty-two parent-toddler dyads were observed interacting with feminine sex-typed toys. The toys included in the study were two baby dolls and a soft, stuffed clown. It was proposed that the type of toy used during the play session was to be the determining factor in how the parent and toddler played. The baby dolls were expected to elicit more nurturing and caretaking responses from both parents and toddlers; while the soft, stuffed clown was expected to evoke more object type play.

Parents and toddlers were observed for their suggestions and/or initiations to their partner for play behaviors. Responses of the parents and toddlers to their partner's suggestions and/or initiations were also observed. In general, parents were found to encourage more feminine sex-typed play behaviors with the baby dolls than with the clown. It was also found that toddlers as young as 18 months of age were able to discriminate between different play behaviors with the baby dolls and clown. In terms of the responses, boys and girls accepted more responses from the same sex parent and rejected more responses from the other sex parent.

This study lends evidence that all "dolls" are not alike, with baby dolls being different from a soft, stuffed clown. Children learn about their environment and how to interact with their environment through play. Therefore, parents who provide their child with baby dolls are scaffolding different experiences for their child than those parents who provide their child with a soft, stuffed toy.