Goals for Parent and Future-Parent Education: Research on Parental Beliefs and Behavior

Abstract

Research on parent characteristics that are correlated with child academic competence provides a basis for design and evaluation of parent education programs. Parent self-directing versus conforming values for children and parent democratic as contrasted to authoritarian child-rearing beliefs are correlated positively with parent education and child competence. Knowledge of ages at which infants learn and of parent influence on infant learning is correlated with parent and child competence. Numerous studies of parent behavior, including observations of mother-infant interaction, reveal correlations of parent behavior with child school achievement. Research findings support a cooperative, family impact model of parent education designed to increase knowledge and active participation of parents and future parents.