Kennis- en leerbehoeftes van ouers met kleuters

Abstract

The knowledge and learning needs of parents with toddlers

Knowledge and insight regarding the child and his/her particular developmental phase improve the prospects of a successful parentchild relationship. This prerequisite is considered to be a proactive approach to parenthood. Proactive parents with the necessary insight and knowledge are more capable of anticipating the possible nature of their children’s behavioural phases and seek ways and means to satisfy their children’s needs in an appropriate manner. Parents are, however, often ignorant or confused regarding their children’s behaviour. They may thus express the need for knowledge from a perspective that can be reconciled with their particular view of reality. This article reports on an investigation into the knowledge needs of Christian parents with toddlers. In order to reach this aim applied research was undertaken by means of the method of intervention research. Data collection was done through focus group interviews; subsquently these data were analysed by means of descriptive analysis as described by Tesch. The principles and topics identified as a result of the analysis are discussed and the article ends with conclusions regarding the possible design of a proactive parent guidance programme for Christian parents with toddlers.