Gender stereotypes? Worry less, join in more, says world's first professor of play

Paul Ramchandanim, new Cambridge University academic set to lead research into child leisure activity, says parents ’ involvement more important than gender roles or games playedLittle girls in pink princess costumes and boys dressed as cowboys might strike many parents as a nightmare combination of gender stereotypes and unappealing role models. However, the Cambridge academic who has just been appointed the world ’s first professor of play has a message for them: relax.Paul Ramchandani, who was announced this week in the newly created professorship at Cambridge University, a post sponsored by Lego, believes parents should agonise less over which games and roles they should edge their child towards and devote more energy simply to playing with them.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Psychology Children Parents and parenting Family Science Life and style Society Source Type: news