Exploratory Descriptive Study of Intergenerational Play Involving Young Children

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Wang, Yihan
Graduate Program:
Curriculum and Instruction
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
July 01, 2023
Committee Members:
James Ewald Johnson, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Matthew Samuel Kaplan, Committee Member
Kimberly Powell, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies
Keywords:
Intergenerational play
Technology
Grandparents
Young children
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate grandparents who reported intergenerational play with grandchildren aged 3 to 10 years old. It explored the content of their preferences for intergenerational play, the challenges they encountered, and the values shared between generations during play. The study also focused on digital play, as many researchers are currently exploring the design of intergenerational online gaming experiences. However, the results revealed that digital play was the least favored category, primarily due to grandparents' disinterest in digital play. Nevertheless, grandparents recognized that technology could partially bridge the gap between them and their grandchildren, offering opportunities for remote connections and the sharing of grandchildren's lives by talking and giving grandchildren responses. They acknowledged that while it may not be considered 'play,' technology facilitated the creation of these connections. Furthermore, the results found that grandparents generally ranked physical play and game play as their top preferences, followed by constructive play, pretend play, and digital play. These preferences did not significantly vary based on gender, suggesting a consistent overall preference trend. The major challenges participants reported identified in the intergenerational play included long distances, limited time and opportunities for playing together with grandchildren, physical limitations, and occasional differences in play interests. Overall, grandparents demonstrated a highly positive attitude towards intergenerational play. They believed it strengthened family bonds and allowed them to pass on their wisdom to their grandchildren, and supported their grandchildren's interests, especially those that parents may not be able to cater to but grandparents could support.