Paternal play and the brain: a study of rough and tumble play and children’s executive functioning development

Children's executive function (EF) is gaining significant interest among developmental psychologists, due to the importance of EF in children’s emotional, social and cognitive development. One way that the development of executive functioning may be supported is through rough and tumble play (RTP). RTP between fathers and children has been found to reveal a range of social, emotional, and cognitive advantages for young children, with similar conclusions being drawn by rodent studies. The current study aims to examine the specific elements of parent behaviour, quality and frequency of play to explore their relation to children’s executive function. Participants consisted of 55 child-father dyads, with 29 boys and 23 girls in Newcastle, Australia. Fathers’ challenging behaviours during play were coded for specific actions, a measure of rough and tumble play was used and a measure of executive functioning. Interestingly, rough-and-tumble play quality was not associated with challenging parent behaviours, however, father-rated rough-and-tumble play frequency was linked to fewer reported problems with overall executive function, inhibition, and emotional control in children. Challenging parent behaviours were associated with overall executive functioning, emotional control, and inhibition. These findings contribute to the emergent field of father-child dynamics and interactions, and its observable importance in child development. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Statement of relevance: This study highlights the importance of promoting positive and engaged fathering and guides deliverable play recommendations to parents, aiming to optimise and foster children’s socio-emotional and cognitive development.