ERIC Number: EJ1380461
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Jun
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1476-718X
EISSN: EISSN-1741-2927
Available Date: N/A
Listening to Mothers' Voices of Children's Play Challenges and Changes during Social Distancing
Dewhirst, Courtney Beers; Casey, Erin
Journal of Early Childhood Research, v21 n2 p256-270 Jun 2023
This study explores how mothers in the US described challenges to their children's (ages birth to eight) play experiences at home during social distancing due to the COVID-19 virus. Understanding their lived experiences is valuable because it will add insight into the effects of this unique time period on the critical role parent-child interactions play in children's physical, social, and emotional well-being. Using a phenomenological design, interviews with 14 mothers revealed a common experience in which play efforts were altered at times due to challenges related to social distancing and COVID-19. Four themes described these challenges: Lack of Parent Resources and Support, Work and Child Care Balance, Children's Struggles with Social Isolation, and Children's Uncertainty Regarding COVID-19. Mothers believed it was their responsibility to keep their children engaged in play as part of their childcare duties. They struggled to balance work and childcare, did not always enjoy playing with their children, and desired alone time to recover during this challenging time. They sought to best meet their children's needs but had to make allowances to their parenting practices and play attitudes. The authors discuss how more intensive parenting philosophies could be difficult to sustain when society does not operate as usual.
Descriptors: Mother Attitudes, Play, Parent Child Relationship, COVID-19, Pandemics, Barriers, Family Work Relationship, Child Care, Social Isolation, Parenting Styles, Disease Control, Well Being, Preschool Children, Child Development, Phenomenology, Interpersonal Competence
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A