Factors Affecting Parent and Child Play Experiences During the COVID-19 Spread and Initial Social Distancing Efforts

ABSTRACT

The present study sought to understand parents’ perspectives on the ease with which they felt they could play with their children during the initial period of social distancing. Seven hundred and five participants answered a 48-item questionnaire. This manuscript is focused on one Likert-type scale question and an open-ended follow-up question. Almost two thirds of participants indicated they felt indifference or that it was difficult to play with their children during social distancing. Five hundred and nine participants provided feedback for their answers. Thematic analysis was used to code and categorize these comments. Participants provided varied reasons for how they viewed playing with their children during social distancing, which were used to create five themes: Work and Professional Role, Mental & Physical Health, Time, Access to Resources, and Parenting Factors. The researchers offer implications for promoting play during times of social distancing.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• parents
• play
• social distancing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).