ERIC Number: EJ1340741
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Aug
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: N/A
"Maybe We Do More Science than I Had Initially Thought": How Parental Efficacy Affects Preschool-Aged Children's Science and Math Activities and Media Use
Hightower, Brianna; Sheehan, Kelly J.; Lauricella, Alexis R.; Wartella, Ellen
Early Childhood Education Journal, v50 n6 p1021-1033 Aug 2022
Early introduction to science and math encourages interest and learning in these subjects later in life. As children's first teachers, parents can expose their children to informal science and math learning activities before they enter formal schooling. It is important to understand how parents engage in science and math activities with their young children and whether parents' perceptions of their own science and math abilities affect their engagement with their child's informal learning, including using media as a learning tool. Using exploratory sequential mixed methods, we interviewed 12 parents and surveyed 187 parents to explore this issue. Our findings identify the science and math activities parents engage their preschool-aged children in and show that parental perceived efficacy in supporting their child's early science and math learning is related to the number of related informal activities their children do. Importantly, we found that perceived efficacy in supporting early science was related to science media use, but perceived efficacy in supporting early math was not related to math media use. This research broadens the understanding of how parents engage their child in science and math learning and can provide insight into how to empower parents to feel confident when they engage their children in science learning.
Descriptors: Preschool Children, Parents, Science Activities, Mathematics Activities, Parent Attitudes, Parent Participation, Self Efficacy, Mass Media Use, Informal Education
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: DRL1252121; DGE1324585

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