Estabilidade e Mudança nas Práticas Educativas Maternas e Paternas ao Longo dos Anos Pré-Escolares da Criança

Abstract

The present study had as its main objective to examine stability and change in mothers and fathers' childrearing practices, in particular the use of inductive, coercive and non-interference practices with 24, 36 and 72 month-old children. Twenty four mothers and fathers who had an only child and lived in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre/RS participated in the study. When the children were 24 and 72 months old, the participants were interviewed about their child-rearing practices. When the children were 36 months old, they and their families were observed during lunch time, with focus on child-rearing practices. Repeated measures of ANOVA indicated differences in maternal inductive practices between 24 and 36 months old and differences in non-interference practices both between 24 and 36 as well as 36 and 72 months old. Concerning the fathers, differences were found between inductive practices at 24 and 72 months old and among non-interference practices at 24 and 36 months old as well as at 36 and 72 months old. The results suggest that both stability and change are found in parents' child-rearing practices over the course of children's development. Changes are related to the fact that parents' expectations and behaviors reflect their children's new abilities and demands.