PATERNAL PARTICIPATION IN TODDLERS PRETEND PLAY

32 toddlers were videotaped in a laboratory setting while playing alon e and with their fathers to understand how fathers contribute to child ren's early pretend play, to explore the extent to which their social play, involves pretend to describe father-child pretend play, and to e xamine fathers' beliefs about children's play. Children exhibited more exploratory play alone and engaged in more symbolic level play with T heir fathers. Sex differences were found in fathers' play behaviors an d in the thematic content of play episodes. Fathers used explicit guid ance with sons and implicit guidance with daughters. Father-son pairs engaged in vehicle/tool play, and father-daughter pairs played domesti c themes. The results suggest that the early differential socializatio n of boys and girls is apparent in father-toddler pretend play.