Importance of fathers' parenting to African-American toddler's social and cognitive development

The present study examined the degree to which parenting attitudes and beha vior (i.e., self-reported warmth, restrictiveness, and behavioral sensitivi ty as assessed during a freeplay session) were related to toddlers' develop ment. Results showed a restrictive attitude was negatively related to socia l and cognitive development, whereas paternal sensitivity was positively re lated to aspects of social development that are less dependent on language skills (e.g., motor and daily living skills). Fathers of girls exhibited gr eater sensitivity in their freeplay interactions than fathers of boys. More globally, the present research demonstrates important relations between th e parenting attitudes and behavior of low- to working-income African-Americ an fathers and young children's development, and similarities to White, mid dle-income fathers.