Practical Challenges Faced by Fathers in Participating in Parent-Child Games Breakthrough Path Research

Jin Bi; Zhaojie Cao; Yangwei Zhu

doi:10.70088/0w5mcq59

Authors

Jin Bi Sichuan University of Light Industry and Chemical Technology, Zigong, China Author
Zhaojie Cao Sichuan University of Light Industry and Chemical Technology, Zigong, China Author
Yangwei Zhu Sichuan University of Light Industry and Chemical Technology, Zigong, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70088/0w5mcq59

Keywords:

father involvement, parent-child games, parent-child interaction, early childhood development, family dynamics

Abstract

Parent-child games represent a distinctive and developmentally significant gaming model within the broader spectrum of recreational activities available to families. Collaborative play between children and their fathers holds considerable importance for early childhood development, contributing to cognitive, emotional, and social growth. This review systematically examines the practical challenges that fathers encounter when participating in parent-child games. Current barriers to meaningful father participation include role ambiguity within the family context, a limited understanding of the developmental value embedded in play activities, insufficient allocation of dedicated playtime, inadequate physical and psychological play environments, restricted game formats that fail to engage diverse interests, and weak collaboration between home and school settings. To maximize fathers' contributions to parent-child games and foster more effective parent-child interaction, this paper proposes a comprehensive breakthrough path. Key recommendations include clarifying paternal roles in play contexts, updating cognitive frameworks regarding the significance of father-child play, optimizing the allocation of familial and institutional resources, establishing consistent and supportive play environments, integrating diverse game types to accommodate varying developmental stages, enriching content diversity to sustain engagement, and strengthening home-school partnerships to create a cohesive support network. These strategies collectively aim to enhance the quality and frequency of father involvement in parent-child games, ultimately promoting healthier family dynamics and more robust child development outcomes.

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