Relationship between children's and parents' stereotyping of physical activities

The purpose of this study was to examine age and gender differences in perceptions of gender-typed physical activities and to investigate the relationship between children's and parents' perceptions. Participants included 357 students in Grades K, 2, 4, and 6 and their parents (n = 455) from two elementary schools in Utah. The Physical Activity Stereotyping Index was used to assess both children's and parents' perceptions. Boys scored higher (more stereotypical in perceptions) on the Index than girls. Students in Kindergarten and Grade 2 scored significantly higher than those in Grades 4 and 6, while all adult (parents) groups were less stereotypical in their beliefs than all student groups. Significant correlations were obtained for spouses' scores (r = .44, p < .001) and for parents' and their children's scores (r = .24, p < .02).