RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDRENS AND PARENTS STEREOTYPING OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The purpose of this study was to examine age and gender differences in perceptions of gender-typed physical activities and to investigate th e relationship between children's and parents' perceptions. Participan ts included 357 students in Grades K, 2, 4, and 6 and their parents (n = 455) from two elementary schools in Utah. The Physical Activity Ste reotyping Index was used to assess both children's and parents' percep tions. Boys scored higher (more stereotypical in perceptions) on the I ndex than girls. Students in Kindergarten and Grade 2 scored significa ntly higher than those in Grades 4 and 6, while all adult (parents) gr oups were less stereotypical in their beliefs than all student groups. Significant correlations were obtained for spouses' scores (r = .44, p < .001) and for parents' and their children's scores (r = .24, p < . 02).