LUXEMBOURG, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Power of Play: Family Connection" study, conducted in two phases by the University of East London (UEL) with support from Kinder, reveals new findings, building on Phase 1 research into the power of shared play on emotional connection and family bonding and highlighting the immediate and measurable impact that even short moments of shared play can have on family connection and children's emotional wellbeing.
Led by Professor Sam Wass, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years at University of East London (UEL), the second phase of the "Power of Play: Family Connection" study used wearable technology and machine learning to observe 21 new families, in addition to the 20 of Phase 1, in their own homes, capturing how parents and children respond physically and emotionally when they play together.
The findings, drawn from data captured across both phases of the study, showcase that play increases connection within family, in three important ways. First, conversations become more linguistically aligned – parents were more likely to answer children, and children were more likely to answer parents. Second, families moved physically closer together during play. Third, before play began, parents' and children's heart rates reacted to each other with an average delay of around 14 seconds. During play, however, that gap dropped to just four seconds. While these specific timings require further investigation, the findings indicate a number of different ways in which play strengthens family connection – almost immediately after play begins.
"What we are seeing, in real homes and in real time, is just how quickly play brings families together," said Sam Wass, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years, University of East London. "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."
The study forms part of Kinder's wider Value of Play initiative, launched in 2025 to explore the role of play in emotional development, learning, and family wellbeing. Building on these results, Kinder has expanded its Value of Play hub on Kinder.com into a dedicated online destination, designed to help families rediscover the joy and value of playing together, transforming expert insights into simple, practical ideas that encourage connection, creativity, and everyday moments of shared play.
Throughout 2026, new findings and expert-led play ideas will continue to be shared on Kinder.com, alongside the introduction of Kinder Play Breaks – a consumer engagement initiative designed to inspire families to pause, reconnect, and bring more moments of play into everyday life, already being launched in UK and Germany.
"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," said Emiliano Laricchiuta, Global President Kinder at Ferrero. "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."
Learn more about Kinder Value of Play initiative and find practical play ideas at www.kinder.com/uk/en/our-care/play-value.
Discover more about Kinder Play Breaks in the UK and Germany.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Completed and ongoing research conducted by the Kinder Value of Play expert panel includes:
Insights from the LiFT project (Learning for Families Through Technology). The partnership between Ferrero International, Gameloft and the Department of Education at the University of Oxford is now in its seventh year – using Kinder's Applaydu platform to explore how digital technology and mobile applications can support children's learning, with current research strands examining digital reading comprehension and parent-child joint media engagement.
About the Power of Play: Family Connection Study
The Power of Play: Family Connection Study is conducted by the Institute for the Science of Early Years (ISEY) at the University of East London, led by Professor Sam Wass. The study uses wearable sensor technology, in-home observation and machine learning analysis to capture real-time family dynamics during play sessions. Participating children are aged 3 to 6. Phase 1 involved 20 families in East London; Phase 2 expands the research to an additional 21 families from a diverse range of backgrounds, bringing the total to 41 families. The research measures three key indicators of family connection: physiological synchrony (the alignment of parent and child heart rates), physical proximity, and language synchrony (how aligned the meaning of their words becomes during shared moments).
About Kinder Value of Play
Kinder's Value of Play is a global, research-backed initiative championing the power of shared play for children's development and family connection. The initiative is supported by a panel of four leading academic and clinical experts conducting independent research, with findings made available to parents and families and used to inform the development of Kinder toys and play experiences.
About the University of East London
The University of East London (UEL), founded in 1898, is a careers-first institution committed to social mobility and preparing students for the future of work. With a diverse student body of more than 40,000 students from over 160 nationalities, UEL is a truly global university rooted in east London, with campuses in Stratford and the Royal Albert Dock. The University of East London (UEL) has designated 2025 as its "Year of Health," a university-wide initiative committed to tackling health disparities, advancing innovation in healthcare, and promoting equity across communities.
Grounded in UEL's mission to drive inclusive change, the campaign explores how climate, environment, policy, and technology intersect with public health. Through research, education, partnerships, and local engagement, UEL is reimagining what it means to build a fairer, healthier future for all. For more information, visit www.uel.ac.uk.
About Ferrero
Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. Kinder is one of Ferrero's most beloved brands, bringing joy to families around the world through products and experiences designed with children's happiness and development at heart.
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