Abstract
Parent involvement in early childhood education is highly valued by staff and families alike. However, limited research is available to guide professionals in how best to involve families in the early childhood programs developed for their children. This article reports on a study which investigated the impact of a science teaching and learning program on families of children attending an Australian Child Care Centre. Particular reference is made to the level of scientific support families gave to their children.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baron, G. (Ed.) (1981).The politics of school government. London: Pergamon.
Biddulph, F. G. M. (1991). Pupil questioning as a teachers/learning strategy in primary science education. In A. Begg, B. Bell, F. Biddulph, M. Carr, J. McChesney, & J. Loveridge (Ed.),SAME Papers 1990. New Zealand: Longman.
Biddulph, F. G. M., & Osborne, R. J. (1984).Making sense of our world. Hamilton: University of Waikato.
Blenkin, G. M., & Kelly, A.V. (Eds.) (1987).Early childhood education-A developmental curriculum. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
Cahn, E., & Passett, B. (Eds.). (1971).Citizen participation: Effecting community change. New York: Praeger.
Cataldo, C. Z. (1980). The parent as learner: Early childhood parent programs.Educational Psychologist, 15, 172–186.
Cataldo, C. Z. (1983).Infant and toddler programs: A guide to very early childhood education. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Cathcart, L., Taylor, K., & Zinkel, C. (1979). Parental involvement in schools.ACT Papers on Education 1978–1979, 137–144.
Chalmers, A. F. (1988).What is this thing called science? St. Lucia, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.
Charlesworth, M., Farrell, L., Stokes, T., & Turnbull, D. (1989).Life Among the scientists. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Cohen, A., & Cohen, L. (Eds.) (1987).Early education: The school years a source book for teachers. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
Cohen, A., & Cohen, L. (Eds.) (1988).Early education: The pre-school years. A source book for teachers. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
Ebbeck, M. A. (1991).Early childhood education, Melbourne: Longman Chesire.
Feasey, R. (1994, July).Towards a framework for questioning in science. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Australasian Science Education Research Association, Hobart, Tasmania.
Fleer, M., Hardy, T., Baron, K., & Malcolm, C. (1995).They don't tell the truth about the wind: A program for 4–8 year olds. Carlton, Victoria: Curriculum Corporation of Australia.
Fleer, M. (1992). The suitability of an interactive approach to teaching science in early childhood.Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 17(4), 12–23
Goodnow, J. J., & Collins, W.A. (1990).Development according to parents. The nature, sources and consequences of parents' ideas. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Elrbaum.
Jacobs, S. (1991).Theories of science. Geelong: Deakin Univesity Press.
Kagan, S. L. (1989). Early care and education: Tackling the tough issues.Phi Delta Kappan, 70, 433–439.
Kelly, A. (Ed.). (1987).Science for girls? Philadelphia: Open University Press.
Litwak, E., & Meyer, H. J. (1974).School, family and neighbourhood: Theory and practice of school-community relations. New York: Columbia University Press.
Madden, J., O'Hara, J., & Levenstein, P. (1984). Home again: Effects of the mother-child home program on mother and child.Child Development, 55, 636–647.
McCarl Nielsen, J. (Ed.). (1990).Feminist research methods, Boulder: Westview Press.
Meadows, A. J. (1979). Specialisation and the amateur. In W. D. Chambers (Ed.),On the social analysis of science. Waurn Ponds, Victoria: Deakin University Press.
Mendelsohn, E. (1979). The emergence of science as a profession. In W. D. Chambers (Ed.),On the social analysis of science. Waurn Ponds, Victoria: Deakin University Press.
Miller, S. A. (1988). Parents' beliefs about children's cognitive development.Child Development, 59, 259–285.
Pettit, D. (1981).Opening up schools, Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Powell, D. R. (Ed.). (1988).Parent education as early childhood intervention: Emerging directions in theory, research, and practice, Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex.
Pugh, G. (1985). Parent-professional partnership in preschool services: Issues and implications.Early Child Development and Care, 19, 219–235.
Pugh, G., & De'Ath, E. (1989).Working towards partnership in the early years. London: National Childrens Bureau.
Rooponarine, J., & Johnson, J. (Eds.) (1987).Approaches to early childhood education. New York: Merrill Publishing.
Russell, A. (1991). Parental role conceptions associated with preschool involvement.Australian Journal of Education, 35(3), 273–291.
Scarr, S., & Mc Cartney, K. (1988). Far from home: An experimental evaluation of the motherchild home program in Bermuda.Child Development, 59, 531–543.
Sigel, I. E. (Ed.). (1985).Parental belief systems: The psychological consequences for children. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Erlbaum.
Sigel, I. E. (1986). Reflections on the belief-behaviour connection: Lessons learned from a research program on parental belief systems and teaching strategies. In R. D. Ashmore & D. M. Brodzinsky (Eds.),Thinking about the family: Views of parents and children (pp. 35–66). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Tizard, B., & Hughes, M. (1984).Young children learning: Talking and thinking at school. London: Fontana Press.
Woodhead, M. (1988). When psychology informs public policy: The case of early childhood intervention.American Psychologist, 43, 443–454.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fleer, M. Fusing the boundaries between home and child care to support children's scientific learning. Research in Science Education 26, 143–154 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02356428
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02356428