Naslov
Parental image of the child – based on surveys in families in the Republic of Croatia

Autori
Maleš, Dubravka ; Kušević, Barbara ; Širanović, Ana

Izvornik
Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji (1734-1582) 17 (2012), 2; 80-96

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
family; parenthood; image of the child; understanding the nature of the child

Sažetak
As a dominant childhood model structured by repeating general representations of the child throughout a longer period of history, the socially ingrained image of the child has changed substantially in the course of history. Traditional ideas of the child as an adult, only small in size, who is by nature vicious or at least easily corruptible and should therefore be kept under tight supervision, was replaced by modern ideas of the child as a competent social agent whose opinion is respected and who makes decisions about matters that directly concern him/her. This image of the child, which is ingrained in the modern society may, but need not correspond with the image of the child every parent fosters (parental image of the child). It is extremely significant from a pedagogical perspective as it is on this image that the parent bases his/her approach to the child, defines his/her child rearing goals, chooses which child-rearing practices to apply and shapes the family environment. Thus the paper defines and theoretically delineates two constructs of the (parental) image of the child, and this is followed by the presentation of the results of the research, the aim of which was to reveal the parental image of the child in Croatian families in the early 21st century. The obtained results indicate that the parents perceive children as unique, active, competent, independent, responsible, good, peaceful and obedient beings with their own rights, which means that the subjects’ image of the child predominantly contains characteristics of the modern image of the child. The results also show that the parental image of the child is significantly related to the variables for the subjects’ gender and the subjects’ satisfaction with their own life as well as variables for the time subjects have for active interaction with the child and the level of mother’s and father’s education. The research has contributed to the pedagogical theory, but its results will also be used as a basis for planning the work with parents.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Pedagogija

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