Children's use of transitional objects: parental attitudes and perceptions

Parental attitudes and perceptions toward children's use of transitional object among 75 sets of parents were examined. Overall, parents appear to understand the significance and importance of children's attachment to transitional objects, thus providing consistency in childrearing. Parental differences emerged in the following areas: situations when children want their transitional object, age children should give up transitional object use, and age parents gave up their own transitional object. Some racial and socioeconomic differences were found, however these differences must be viewed within the context of a broader cultural perspective. The study suggests that parents are perceptive and, for the most part, respectful of the significance of transitional objects in the lives of children.