A perspective for investigating the role of play in child development through the lens of behavioural genetics.

The topic of genetic influence is an understudied area in play research. We propose that play research can draw on behavioural genetics methodologies to investigate individual differences in children’s play. Studies applying behavioural genetic methods seek to understand how genes and the environment work together to impact behaviour, and this is an area that remains relatively unexplored in play research. In doing so, we can extend what is known about the forms, functions and origins of play in child development. To invite play researchers to consider behavioural genetics methods, we share an overview of quantitative genetic methods like twin studies, genome-wide association studies, and polygenic studies and present possible applications to play research. We suggest that variables related to children, their parents, and their genetic propensities can be used to explore linkages between play, child development outcomes and the environment.