I want him to make good friends. He should be active playing, running, and roaming here and there. He should play in the park very actively. Whatever he sees, he should have questions about. He should ask, “Why is it like this? In what way is that?” That’s when he will develop his ability to learn.
33-year-old father of 3-year-old boy, rural Karnataka
I used to play with her to make her eat. I also took her to temples. I drop her at school when my wife is busy. [My daughter and I] still play together.
40-year-old father of 5-year-old girl, rural Karnataka
Fathers and play—two words not often placed together in conversations about early childhood. Yet, a research study tells us otherwise. Findings from, “Fathers, their Preschool-age Children, and their Families,” undertaken by Bachpan Manao-EkStep and Probex Consulting, reveal that across rural and urban India, fathers are not just present in their children’s lives, they are playing with their young children and they value it most. This big reveal is based on interviews with 152 fathers from across rural and urban India.
[they are playing and bonding through moments of joy. Play, more than anything else, is what fathers cherish most with their preschool-age children. Could it be that fathers instinctively know what science confirms—that play is essential for a child’s growth, learning, and emotional well-being?]
Contrary to a societal mindset that prioritizes academic activities over play, the study highlights that fathers prefer to and predominantly engage in play with their children, at least in the preschool years. Not that ‘studying’ is not on their minds but there is delight in play.
This emphasis on play is timely.
At a global level, the United Nations declared June 11th as the International Day of Play, following global efforts to recognise the significance of play for learning and wellbeing for all, especially children. A survey of 25,000 children across 36 countries revealed that 73% of children feel adults do not take play- and how it helps them learn-seriously.
Play aligns with India’s current educational policies. The National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022 place “play” at the core of learning for the foundational years, covering ages 0-8. Navchetana 2024 and Aadharshila 2024 emphasize how play in the early years is fundamentally child-centered. These frameworks encourage parents to involve their children in play, including conversation, stories, toys, music, art, craft, indoor and outdoor play, and nature exploration.
The research on Indian fathers suggests that fathers here actively participate in play and recognize the importance of play, but only for physical and not mental development.
Fathers’ activities with their children were categorized into “assisting” (such as helping with schoolwork and daily routines), “coexisting” (like eating together and co-sleeping), and “playing.” The most common activity was play, followed by going out, doing school work, and studying. This pattern is particularly strong in the 0-6 age group, where the expectations of formal education are not yet dominant.
There is an untapped potential of father-child play. Science says that it generates high levels of oxytocin for both father and child, thus fostering emotional connections. “Father-Child Play: A Systematic Review of its Frequency, Characteristics and Potential Impact on Children’s Development,” a meta-analysis by Amodia-Bidakowska et al states that fathers tend to engage more in physical play, which is beneficial for children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. It helps children develop self-regulation and emotional control in a safe environment.
Interestingly, the research on Indian fathers noted that fathers often found daily moments of joy in their interactions with their children, beyond special events or milestones. These everyday moments of play and connection are the building blocks of a strong, supportive relationship that benefits both child and father. A 32-year-old father from rural Maharashtra captures this: “It is satisfying just to see his smiling face and be with him after returning home from work. No matter how tired I am and how many loads I have carried…I feel refreshed even when I just sit with him.”
Let us shine a light on the vital role fathers play in their children’s lives through play. This simple yet profound interaction nurtures a child’s development in multifaceted ways: physical and cognitive growth, emotional bonding, resilience, and learning processes of observation, experimentation, creativity and problem-solving. In a world where caregiving is often viewed as a mother’s domain, it’s time to recognize and celebrate the unique and powerful bond between fathers and their children.let us celebrate fathers and their irreplaceable role in their children’s lives through play, which is key to children learning and growing, Bachpan Manao, Badhte Jao.
This article is based on a research study by Probex Consulting.
P.Radhika is Manager, Research and Program, EkStep Foundation. She formerly held positions as Postdoctoral Fellow, History of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, Bengaluru. Holding a doctorate in Gender and Culture Studies, she has served as faculty at the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bengaluru and St. Joseph’s Post Graduate and Research Centre, Bengaluru.
Devayani Srinivasan is Head of Research and M&E at Probex Consulting. Before establishing the research and M&E practice at Probex, she was Team Leader: Knowledge Management at Villgro, where she was responsible for launching a minor in innovation and social entrepreneurship at IIT-M. She possesses a B.A. in anthropology from Wesleyan University in the United States, and a M.Sc.Pl. in environmental planning from the University of Toronto in Canada.
