Discipline in context : families' disciplinary practices for children aged under five Lawrence, Julie; Smith, Anne B.
Material type:
- 9780478349023
- 1177-3952
- 649.64
Item type | Current library | Call number | Status | Barcode | |
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Vine library | Online | Available | ON12080350 | |
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Vine library | TRO 649.64 LAW | Available | A0067155AB |
ISSN 1177-3952 (Print) ISSN 1177-8261 (Online) ISBN 978-0-478-34902-3 (Print) ISBN 978-0-478-34903-0 (Online)
Acknowledgements 2 Executive summary 5 1. Introduction 7 1.1 Aims 7 1.2 Background 7 1.2.1 Rationale for study 7 1.2.2 Previous research 7 1.2.3 Theoretical framework 9 2. Method 11 2.1 The sample 11 2.2 Ethics 13 2.3 Instruments 13 2.3.1
This report presents the views, experiences and practices of a sample of New Zealand families in relation to disciplining their pre-school children. Parents and caregivers were asked what they believed about discipline, how they disciplined their children and the type of support and stress that they experienced with parenting. The study also looked at the effect of child and family characteristics and context over time on discipline. The study used semi-structured interviews with parents, parents keeping diaries of disciplinary events over three days in a two-week period, and a standardised tool, the Parenting Daily Hassles scale. The national sample comprised 117 caregivers - 98 mothers, 16 fathers, and three grandparents. The study found that the majority of parents took a positive approach using methods such as praise and rewards. There were few differences between parents practices associated with child and family characteristics. Parents' own upbringing was a strong influence on parenting, but there were other important influences and sources of support and advice for parenting in most families. The study finds a more positive picture of New Zealand parents' disciplinary practice than shown in previous research. The authors suggest that recent changes in the law, and public campaigns against family violence, may be changing the attitudes and practices of parents. The study has implications for professionals who work with parents (such as early childhood teachers) who may benefit from specific professional development programmes focused on discipline. Future social marketing campaigns could help to continue to change attitudes towards more effective parenting and a more rewarding family life.
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