Human Relationships in Play

Infancy

Since many cognitive and physical abilities are in the process of developing, the play of infants is relatively limited. Research on infants tells us that they are aware of others around them, including other infants, but little direct interaction exits. Most play of infants can be categorized as three types: (1) solitary play, when the infant finds enjoyment entertaining him/herself, such as playing with their toes; (2) onlooker play, where the infant watches the play actions of others; and (3) one-on-one play, such as peek-a-boo, where the play is initiated by the parent or caregiver and the infant is the recipient of these actions. This last type of play, parent-child play, is the most prevalent.

Parent-child play during infancy and toddlerhood is the foundation for later play in childhood. Parents and caregivers model ways to enter social activities, how to take turns, how to follow the rules, ways to encourage and motivate others, and how to be a good winner and loser. Interestingly enough, mothers and fathers may play differently with their infant. While both parents are [Page 306]likely to incorporate play with daily responsibilities (e.g., bath time), fathers are more likely to have simple playful interactions with the infant. The gender of the child may also affect parent-child interaction. For example, fathers of male children are more likely to engage the infant in physical or active play than fathers of female children.

When a parent plays with a child during infancy and toddlerhood, it is the foundation for later play in childhood, as well as being a useful tool in bonding with their child and teaching them skills.

Siblings offer another prime example of play in infant relationships. If the siblings are close in age, for example 4 years and younger, the older child often interacts with the infant in more playful way. It is not uncommon that in these interactions the older child takes on the dominant role, often scaffolding and teaching the infant various ways to respond and participate. As children grow, play among same-gender siblings becomes more competitive and can result in sibling rivalry. As to the difference between sibling-infant play and parent-infant play, some debate remains. Some experts believe that sibling-infant pairs engage in more pretend play than parent-infant pairs, while others believe the opposite.

Playful interaction with an infant takes on new meaning sometime between 4 to 6 weeks of age, with the emergence of what is referred to as the “social smile.” The social smile is a big, happy smile that the infant gives when they recognize or respond to their caregiver's behavior. This voluntary emotional response signals that play is now truly reciprocal in nature. For example, when the father covers his face with his hands and then opens them while saying “peek-a-boo,” the baby's smile tells the dad that “I like what you are doing.” The father enjoys seeing his child happy and will then be more likely to repeat the action. And so the game and playful interaction goes on. Early-life playful social interactions such as Peek-a-Boo and Where's Your Tummy? lay the foundation of many later social competencies including turn-taking, establishing trust, and forming attachment.

...