Supervisors info:
Καλλιρρόη Παπαδοπούλου, Επίκουρη καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα ΤΕΑΠΗ, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Summary:
In this research we examine parents’ views about the participation of children in daily activities. In the light of the socio-cultural approach daily activities constitute an important framework for parent-child interaction and as a result they play an important role in children’s development. The study of this topic is consistent with the need to study development in the context of society and culture. which has been highlighted in recent decades in developmental psychology as opposed to the treatment of development processes as universal.
The theorists on whose work this research is based, are Lev Vygotsky, Barbara Rogoff, Urie Bronfenbrenner, Charles Super and Sarah Harkness. They approached the development of children through the cultural framework because they considered important to study not only the child but also those involved in interaction with him/her in specific contexts. As a result, in this study we examine the views and practices of parents, mothers and fathers, comparing them with the daily activities that children take part as well as their role in these activities.
Daily activities within the family were chosen because such activities are the first and most important frameworks for parent-child interactions. In addition, raising information on parent-child participation and interactions may be more valid and reliable when it comes to activities for which parents are directly related and actively engaged.
The survey was carried out on a sample of 10 families with pre-school children (10 mothers and 10 fathers) in the wider area of Athens, Greece. The aim of this was to study the daily activities of pre-school children from parents’ point of view, the factors that are related to the participation of parents and children in these activities and the type of interactions that take place. There were investigated the convergences and any differences between the two parents, their way of participation in daily activities and their opinion about the importance that each of it plays in children’s development.
The survey was qualitative and was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Most interviews were conducted with parents online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine that was imposed. Quality content analysis was applied to interviews.
The findings showed similar perceptions of the types of daily activities involving children and their importance. As for parents’ participation, we concluded that mothers and fathers participate more in children’s activities involving electronic devices and in walks in comparison with other activities. On the other hand, it seems that only mothers participate in household activities with their children and also they take part more than fathers into cooking and entertainment activities inside the house.
Moreover, from the findings we understand that parents views regarding the developmental benefits of each activity play an important role in their participation in each one of them. A decisive part in the involvement of parents with their children seems to be the available time they have.
The results are discussed on the basis of sociocultural and framework theories on development as well as previous studies on this topic.
