Parents' Perceptions of Children's Social Play at Home: A Qualitative Study

Play dates are early social events that lie at the interface between family and peer relationships. They typically describe dyadic play in the home. Despite their ubiquity we know very little about the types of play that children engage in, the benefits and barriers of play dates, or the influence of differential parental supervision and monitoring. This study qualitatively explores parents’ perceptions of play-dates and investigates how this environment may support children to develop important social and emotional skills and resilience. Four key themes emerge.