French and European American child–mother play: Culture and gender considerations

Abstract

Research on French and European American mothers' childrearing practices, and potential effects of these differences on children's behavioral development, is scarce. This study compared 33 French and 39 European American 20-month-old children and their mothers on exploratory, symbolic, and social play and interaction. French children engaged in more exploratory play, whereas US children engaged in more symbolic play. French and US mothers engaged in similar amounts of exploratory and symbolic play, and equally frequently solicited exploratory play. French mothers less frequently solicited symbolic play and offered less verbal praise than US mothers. Developmental play levels and activities also varied according to children's sex. Boys engaged in more exploratory play; girls engaged in more symbolic play. Girls received more physical affection from their mothers; boys received more verbal praise. These results suggest the coexistence of universal and culturally variable aspects of mother–child interactions and children's developmental processes.