# How The Child Gender and The Parents Gender Affects the Play and Physical Activity Early and Preschool Age Children
[](https://hub.ufzg.hr/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/logo-stoo2-1-no.png) | **Odgoj danas za sutra:** **Premošćivanje jaza između učionice i realnosti** 3\. međunarodna znanstvena i umjetnička konferencija Učiteljskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Suvremene teme u odgoju i obrazovanju – STOO4 u suradnji s Hrvatskom akademijom znanosti i umjetnosti |
##### **Ivica Iveković** *1Center for education and rehabilitation Virovitica* *ivica.ivek@gmail.com* |
**Section - Kinesiology education and sports** | **Paper number: 58** | **Category: Original scientific paper** |
##### **Abstract** |
Girls and boys differ not only physically, psychologically and sociologically, but also in the way and approach to a particular type of play. The paper contains researches related to play and physical activity early and preschool age children. The paper states the differences between boys and girls during different types and places of play and how the gender of parents affects the play and physical activity early and preschool age children. Research has shown that there are certain differences between boys and girls in the way they play, the choice of games, according to the choice of activities, locations, props and devices. The outdoor play of boys and girls has certain similarities and differences. Research suggests that boys and girls are equally physically active when playing outdoors. Rough play is characteristic for boys, but girls are also involved in this form of play. Girls' rough play differ from boys' rough play. Boys will be more physically active and spend more time playing when they have props. Just as there is a difference in the way boys and girls play, research shows that there is a difference between father and mother in the way and approach to play with the child. Fathers may encourage physical play a little more and involve children in it more, while mothers will prefer quieter games and activities. Certain studies have shown that fathers participate more in physical play with children than mothers, while others have shown that both parents participate equally or even that mothers participate more than fathers. Taking into account the different results of research on the involvement of parents in children's physical play, this could lead us to perhaps a general conclusion that in fact there is no difference. However, thinking about everyday situations, it could still be stated that fathers participate more in physical play with children. Research shows that a parent's physical play with a child can encourage and improve the child's cognitive, language and motor development. Taking into account the research mentioned in this paper, it can be said that mothers and fathers generally play almost the same games with their children nowadays, the only question is how they approach the game itself. Various studies point to the conclusion that fathers will encourage children's gender-stereotyped play much more than mothers and that fathers are more inclined to risk and perform risky activities, but the actual application of these attitudes in everyday life situations may be questionable. Fathers believe that children should engage in risky situations and gain certain experiences in that way, but it is still too dangerous for them to actually realize it in real game situations. Both parents should be equally involved in all aspects of the child's care and upbringing, which also applies to the field of play. Each parent has a different approach to the game and the way they will spend it with their child, which contributes to the enrichment of the child's emotional and social knowledge and the development of motor and cognitive skills and abilities. |
***Key words:*** |
*differences between fathers and mothers; differences between boys and girls; physical activity; play* |
**BOYS** | **GIRLS** |
- boys primarily play with "male" toys - they typically choose a game with dice and balls - choose a game with transport toys, weapons, building materials - choosing games that involve the activation of large muscles and the skills of throwing and shooting a target (basketball, specula, wrestling, archery) - choose topics that concern the fight between good and evil - they play much further away from home, outside, away from the direct sight of an adult (they spend more time at a greater distance from their mother) - they are less often involved in responsible work than girls - they want to run, swim, catch, spy, drive, observe, fight, compete, dive, "wrestle" by hugging and hang on a pole - during play on the playground, they play significantly more on harder surfaces than girls - they play much more often on external construction materials such as crates, tires and ladders - they use sticks much more often than girls - more often than girls, they ride a bike or mobile to a place other than school/kindergarten - the natural processes of building the home environment and creating the characters that live there are important to them - physical play is characteristic - they are more involved in competitive games - they play more often in larger, more age-heterogeneous groups - their games last longer than girls - require more space indoors and outdoors | - tend towards a light fluid style of play - tend towards interactions - choose a game with dolls and doll clothes - choose a game with household appliances - they change their clothes - they play with materials for creative expression - they like games that involve rhythm and coordination of the whole body (e.g. jumping rope, "school", clapping games), - they like games that involve melodies or singing - they initiate hunting games, often through "touch and run" action and maintain the game by constantly giving instructions to the boys, considering that they often wander off (they lose attention) - more often choose themes for the game that are closely related to everyday experiences - more often choose to play with feminized or neutral toys - they play more closer to home or inside - during the game they spend more time in contact with an adult supervising (mainly mother and other family members) - they do a responsible job or take care of a child, so they can often combine a pleasant conversation or moments of playful fun - they want to drive, swim, dress up, pick flowers and enjoy the sun - spend more time playing on fixed equipment such as climbing frames and swings - they prefer rollerblading on a sunny day more than boys - pretend play is characteristic of the interaction between girls of preschool age, and they perform it at a higher level than boys do - the play of the bride is more represented - they play more boys' games than boys play girls' games - they do more writing/drawing activities - they play decorating the interior of the house |
**MOTHER** | **FATHER** |
ü They prefer and favor quiet activities ü They participate more in teaching and talking with the child ü They primarily participate in visual and cognitive play with objects ü They are more involved in didactic play with children (encouraging the child to get involved in the environment and to understand it; providing opportunities to observe, learn and imitate behavior) ü They encourage and participate more in pretend play with children ü They encourage role playing ü They use more speech / conversation during the game | ü They prefer energetic play ü They involve the child in physical interaction (physical play) without objects ü They involve the child in an unpredictable game ü They use less speech / conversation during the game |
[](https://hub.ufzg.hr/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/logo-stoo2-1-no.png) | **Odgoj danas za sutra:** **Premošćivanje jaza između učionice i realnosti** 3\. međunarodna znanstvena i umjetnička konferencija Učiteljskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Suvremene teme u odgoju i obrazovanju – STOO4 u suradnji s Hrvatskom akademijom znanosti i umjetnosti |
**Sažetak ** |
Djevojčice i dječaci se ne razlikuju samo fizički, psihološki i sociološki nego i u načinu i pristupu pojedinoj vrsti igre. U radu su navedena istraživanja koja su se odnosila na igru i fizičku aktivnost djece rane i predškolske dobi. U radu se navode razlike između dječaka i djevojčica tijekom različitih vrsta i mjesta za igru te kako spol roditelja utječe na igru i fizičku aktivnost djece rane i predškolske dobi. Istraživanja su pokazala da između dječaka i djevojčica postoje određene razlike u načinu igre, izboru igra, prema odabiru aktivnosti, lokaliteta, rekvizita i sprava. Igra dječaka i djevojčica na otvorenom ima određenih sličnosti i razlika. Istraživanja upućuju na to da su dječaci i djevojčice podjednako fizički aktivni kada provode igru vani na otvorenom. Gruba igra je karakteristična za dječake, ali se u takav oblik igre uključuju i djevojčice. Gruba igra djevojčica se razlikuje od grube igre dječaka. Dječaci će biti fizički aktivniji i više će vremena provoditi u igri kada imaju rekvizite. Kao što se razlikuje način provođenja igre dječaka i djevojčica istraživanja pokazuju da se razlikuje način i pristup igri s djetetom između oca i majke. Očevi će možda malo više poticati fizičku igru te će u nju više uključivati djecu, dok će majke preferirati mirnije igre i aktivnosti. Pojedina istraživanja su pokazala da očevi u odnosu na majke više sudjeluju u fizičkoj igri s djecom, dok su druga pokazala da oba roditelja sudjeluju podjednako ili čak da majke sudjeluju više u odnosu na očeve. Uzevši u obzir različito dobivene rezultate istraživanja o uključenosti roditelja u fizičku igru djece to bi nas moglo usmjeriti prema možda općem zaključku da zapravo razlike i ne postoji. Međutim, razmišljajući o svakodnevnim situacijama moglo bi se ipak ustvrditi da očevi više sudjeluju u fizičkoj igri s djecom. Istraživanja pokazuju da fizička igra roditelja s djetetom može potaknuti i unaprijediti djetetov kognitivni, jezični i motorički razvoj. Uzevši u obzir istraživanja koja su navedena u ovom radu može se reći da majka i otac općenito u današnje vrijeme provode gotovo iste igre s djecom samo je pitanje na koji način pristupaju samoj igri. Različita istraživanja upućuju na zaključak da će očevi mnogo više poticati kod djece spolno stereotipnu igru nego majke te da su očevi skloniji riziku i izvođenju rizičnih aktivnosti, ali stvarna primjena tih stavova u svakodnevnim životnim situacijama je možda upitna. Očevi smatraju da bi se djeca trebala upuštati u rizične situacija i na taj način stjecati određena iskustva, ali im je to ipak preopasno da se stvarno realizira u realnim situacijama igre. Oba roditelja bi se trebala podjednako uključiti u sve aspekte brige i odgoja djeteta što se odnosi i na područje igre. Svaki roditelj ima drugačiji pristup igri i način kako će ju provoditi s djetetom što pridonosi obogaćivanju djetetovih emocionalnih i socijalnih spoznaja te razvoju motoričkih i kognitivnih vještina i sposobnosti. |
***Ključne riječi:*** |
*fizička aktivnost; igra; razlike dječaka i djevojčica, razlike očeva i majki* |