An exploratory study of the effects of interactional “Hureai play” on attachment between mother and child in early childhood

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of interactional “Hureai play” in early childhood between mother and child on attachment. Participants comprised 36 children between the ages of 2 and 2 years and 11 months, and their respective mothers. Ten minutes of free play between mother and child were filmed, and the analysis was conducted for the five minutes in which there was a lot of “Hureai play.” A questionnaire was used to evaluate attachment, and “Hureai play” was examined quantitatively through total time of positive touch with the child as well as items related to mother-child interactions. The relationship between attachment and “Hureai play” was examined using a binomial logistic regression analysis. The results showed that quantitative items were not involved in attachment stability. However, a mother's ability to respect the child's intentions before “Hureai play,” the child's moderate emotional expressions during “Hureai play,” and the mother's emotional responsiveness after “Hureai play” were related. Therefore, it was suggested that interactional “Hureai play” between mother and child with this sequence of events is important for attachment formation.