Child-Rearing Practices in a Selected Sample of Parents with Children in Childcare in Singapore

Abstract

This article reports on a study based on interviews with 40 parents in Singapore. The study examined parents' views about their children's development and learning, and how these were or were not congruent with the views and practices of the childcare centre the children were attending. Findings showed that, although there were some similarities, there was a great variety of differences between practices at home and at the centre. Differences were apparent in discipline and expected levels of self-help skills. The term ‘behaviour management’ is not well known in Singapore, hence the use of the word ‘discipline’ in the study. The study recommends that increased parent participation at the centre could resolve some of the perceived differences.