ABSTRACT
Objective:
To analyze the association between the incorporation of play into the domestic routine of caregivers, and the child development of children under their care.
Method:
Cross-sectional study conducted with 129 caregiver-child dyads aged 12-23 months, living in the southern region of São Paulo. Child development was assessed using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire-3, and the incorporation of play into the domestic through a questionnaire and filming of the dyads in activities related to the domestic routine.
Results:
Almost all the caregivers were the mother (98%), who, when answering the questionnaire, reported incorporating play into their domestic routine (93%), however in the video, only one third played with the child (34%). There was a positive association between playing in moments of domestic routine and domains of child development in children aged 18 months or less.
Conclusions:
A positive association was found between the incorporation of play into the domestic routine and child development.
Keywords:
Child development; Child care; Play and playthings; Health promotion; Mother-child relations; Public health nursing