Attachment security and disorganisation at 18 months associated with developmental play level at 30 months

Abstract

Play and exploration may develop within the child’s early attachment relationship to e.g. their mother. This study examined whether attachment security and disorganisation predicted the developmental level of play as well as the duration of pretend play in a low-risk sample. 64 mother-child dyads participated in an assessment of child attachment at 18 months (using the Strange Situation Procedure) and a 20-minute laboratory play setup including four different conditions at 30 months. Children’s play were coded using the 12 Step Play Scale. Generalized estimating equations showed a significant positive association between attachment security and developmental play level. Further, play level scores decreased as disorganisation increased in a story stem play condition. There were no significant associations regarding attachment and duration of pretend play. Our findings indicate the importance for a secure base that the child can explore from, leading to a more developmentally advanced play.