Predictors of Toy Selection Criteria of Preschool Children's Parents

Abstract

A questionnaire format was used in the present study of 230 parents of 2- to 5-year-old children to investigate toy selection criteria and the potential influence of parents' perceptions of child competence and their role as teachers of their children. Factor analysis revealed five salient categories of toy choice criteria for mothers: Educational, Well Made, Parent Appeal, Flexible, and Child Appeal. Factors identified for fathers were: Educational, Child Appeal, and Father Values. Regression analysis acted as a confirmation of associations found through correlational analysis. Regression analyses revealed that mothers who were more likely to accept their child's ideas and value their own position as a parent, particularly in play (Adult Receptivity), were predicted to choose toys that were well made, but not educational. The use of child-centered teaching methods was found to be a significant predictor of the use of educational toy criteria for mothers. The overall results indicated that the criteria used by mothers to select toys for their children vary with regard to their background characteristics and the role they perceive themselves to play in relation to the teaching of their children. No such relationships were observed for fathers.