Background. The value of the children’s game lies in its developing potential, which determines the need to support it by adults, especially parents. Research indicates that such support contributes to better developmental outcomes in children. Moreover, parents can retain a love for play throughout their lives. Adults inclined toward playfulness report higher life satisfaction and greater engagement in life. Parental playfulness fosters spontaneity and creativity in parent-child interactions. It can be hypothesized that positive childhood play experiences influence adults’ life satisfaction and their attitudes toward their children’s play.
Objective. Analysis of the relationship between life satisfaction and the attitude of their children to the game with memories of the game in childhood.
Sample. The study involved 282 participants (229 women, 53 men) aged 21 to 69.
Methods. The study employed the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) by Diener et al. (1985) in the Russian adaptation by D.A. Leontiev and E.N. Osin (Osin, Leontiev, 2008; 2020), along with an original questionnaire assessing memories of childhood play and attitudes toward children’s play.
Results. Overall life satisfaction scores showed no direct correlation with memories of childhood play. However, associations were found between specific SWLS subscales and play-related memories. Links were also identified between recollections of personal play experiences and attitudes toward children’s play.
Conclusions. Individuals with positive memories of supported play and playful interactions with adults in childhood reported higher life satisfaction and perceived themselves as more successful in key life domains. Positive childhood play experiences shape an understanding of play’s importance for children and influence parenting approaches. Adults with such experiences, as parents, are more likely to create conditions that foster similar play experiences for their own children.