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Just seconds of play can help families feel more connected, new study finds

Just seconds of play can help families feel more connected, new study finds

New research suggests even brief moments of shared play can boost connection between parents and children.

mother and daughter play with colored cubes at home

Hollie Bond

Published: June 11, 2026 at 10:21 AM

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Research has long highlighted the benefits of play for children's development, but a new study suggests the impact on family relationships can happen almost instantly.

New findings from the University of East London (UEL), supported by Kinder, found that even short moments of shared play can help parents and children feel more emotionally and physically connected.

The research observed families in their own homes and found measurable changes in how parents and children interacted with each other during play, from the way they spoke to one another to how physically close they stayed.

What did the study find?

The second phase of the "Power of Play: Family Connection" study was led by Professor Sam Wass, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years at the University of East London.

Researchers used wearable technology and machine learning to observe 21 families in their homes. Combined with an earlier phase involving 20 families, the findings are based on observations from 41 families with children aged three to six.

According to the researchers, play increased family connection in three key ways:

Parents and children became more responsive to each other's conversations.
Families moved physically closer together while playing.
Parents' and children's heart rates became more closely aligned during play.

Before play began, researchers found that parents' and children's heart rates responded to one another with an average delay of around 14 seconds. During play, that delay dropped to around four seconds.

While researchers say these timings require further investigation, the findings suggest that shared play may help families become more emotionally in tune with each other very quickly.

Why does play matter for family relationships?

A family playing with an educational building toy - patience, imagination, creativity

Professor Sam Wass said the study revealed just how quickly shared play can influence family interactions.

He explained: "What we are seeing, in real homes and in real time, is just how quickly play brings families together."

Wass also noted that the effects appeared to continue after the play session had ended.

What we are seeing, in real homes and in real time, is just how quickly play brings families together.

Professor Sam Wass, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years, University of East London

According to the researcher, families remained physically closer and their conversations stayed more aligned even after they stopped playing.

He added: "What surprised us most is that the effects continue beyond the play itself, families stayed closer together, with their conversations remaining more aligned and in-tune than before play started. Play creates moments of synchrony and togetherness – thinking about the same thing at the same time. These are thought to be crucial drivers of children's development. It is through engaging with our parents and carers that we learn to be able to concentrate, and to regulate emotions, on our own."

What does this mean for parents?

For busy families, the findings may offer reassurance that meaningful connection does not always require hours of dedicated activities.

The research suggests that simple moments of shared play, whether that's building with blocks, creating imaginative games, drawing together or playing with toys, may help strengthen parent-child bonds.

While the study focused on children aged three to six, the findings add to a growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of playful interactions in family life.

Kinder expands online play resources for families

The study forms part of Kinder's wider Value of Play initiative, which launched in 2025 to explore the role of play in children's development and family wellbeing.

Following the latest findings, Kinder has expanded its online Value of Play hub with expert-backed ideas designed to help families bring more play into everyday routines.

Emiliano Laricchiuta, Global President Kinder at Ferrero, said the findings reflect what many parents already experience during playtime with their children.

The research confirms what many parents instinctively feel: when you are fully present in play with your child, something meaningful happens. We see it in their heartbeats, their closeness, and the way their conversations evolve.

Emiliano Laricchiuta, Global President Kinder at Ferrero

He added: "These new insights deepen our understanding of the connection between parents and children and reinforce our belief in the power of play. At Kinder, our ambition is simple: to encourage more moments of shared play, supporting kids' emotional wellbeing, development, and the bond between parents and children."

How the research was carried out

The Power of Play: Family Connection study was conducted by the Institute for the Science of Early Years at the University of East London.

Researchers observed 41 families in total, using wearable sensors, in-home observation and machine learning analysis to measure:

Physiological synchrony, how closely parent and child heart rates aligned.
Physical proximity, how close families stayed to each other.
Language synchrony, how aligned their conversations became during shared activities.

The participating children were aged between three and six years old, with families taking part across two phases of research.

Authors

journalist and two young kids sat on a bench in France for a review of Eurocamp

Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!