Fathers pay more attention to toddler daughters than sons, study shows

Striking differences in the way men talk and play with their children depending on whether they are male or female revealed by US researchers

Fathers of toddler daughters are more attentive to their children than those of sons, according to a study that suggests unconscious gender biases can dictate the way parents treat their children.

In the study, which monitored 48 hours of interactions between fathers and toddlers, striking differences emerged between the way fathers spoke to and played with boys compared to girls.