Immigrant (Japanese and South Americans in the United States) families’
play was compared to play in families in their countries of origin (Japan and
Argentina, respectively) and in a common country of destination (European Americans
in the United States). Two hundred and forty 20-month-old children and their mothers
participated. Generally, the play of immigrant children and mothers was similar to
European American children's and mothers’ play. Japanese and
Argentine children engaged in more symbolic play, whereas immigrant children engaged
in more exploratory play. Likewise, South American immigrant mothers demonstrated
and solicited more exploratory play than Argentine mothers. Japanese mothers
solicited more symbolic play, and Argentine mothers demonstrated more symbolic play
than immigrant mothers. The findings from this study provide insight into the nature
of child and mother play generally and that of immigrant children and their mothers
specifically and shed light on the parenting climate in which immigrant children are reared.
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