Although under-investment in children is an identified problem in low-income developing countries (LDC) and the establishment and use of preschools has been advocated as a partial remedy, the readiness of children and parents for preschool in LDC has been little studied. This paper assesses motivational techniques that parents report using with preschool children in a rural Philippine municipality. The purposes of this study were to examine: (a) whether the motivation strategies used by parents are consistent with a “balanced, holistic approach” to child development and (b) whether the parents’ motivational strategies are associated with school performance. The study suggests some over-weighting by parents of academic achievement, but otherwise more appropriate child-oriented behaviors were observed than reported in some research. Motivation by parents also was associated with preschool performance.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the parents of Catmon, Cebu, Philippines. Special thanks goes to Sr. Ritzlou Arlan, C.P., Sr. Adoracion Neneng, C.P., Ph.D., and all the Passionist sisters of the St. Gemma Galgani Community. The research reported in this article was supported by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation [Makati] and the Center for the International Exchange of Scholars [Fulbright] award to Dr. A. R. Williams. Dr. Williams is appreciative of collegial discussions at Cebu Normal University, Cebu City, Philippines, during his tenure as a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar. None of these acknowledged institutions or persons are responsible for the interpretation of study findings.
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Monteflor, M.O., Williams, A.R., Williams, P.D. et al. Parent Motivation Strategies and the Performance of Preschoolers in a Rural Philippine Municipality. Early Childhood Educ J 33, 333–340 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0035-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0035-1