ERIC Number: ED287639
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1987-May
Pages: 10
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Child Rearing on the Farm.
Clark, Sam; And Others
During the second year of a 3-year study involving 112 Iowa farm families, mothers of children aged 4 to 10 years old expressed expectations of independence, responsibility, and hard work from their children during home interviews. The importance of the parent-child relationship together with the lack of sufficient child-rearing research on rural populations form the justifications for this study. This study pictured the modern midwestern farm family as one in which an extended family is the rule, thus providing the potential for togetherness. Yet responding mothers indicated the family has chosen a lifestyle that allows for space, privacy, and the nurturance of responsibility and independent behaviors. Farm mothers repeatedly emphasized the desire for their children to become responsible, independent, and hard-working citizens as well as to be caring, helping, and considerate people. The majority of participating families were experienced with extension programs. However, when asked about the kinds of assistance extension agents and other professionals might provide in child-rearing, only a few indicated a desire for information about infants and adolescents. The overwhelming response was a firm statement that child rearing information from sources outside the family was neither needed nor wanted. Thus to change attitudes or impact on the farm family, patience with and long-term support of child-rearing extension programs will need to be exercised by extension personnel. (NEC)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iowa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A