JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION THEORY AND PRACTICE
Parents’ Beliefs and Goals in Early Childhood
Author(s): E. B. O’Donnell
Citation: E. B. O’Donnell, (2018) "Parents’ Beliefs and Goals in Early Childhood," Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, Vol.18, Iss. 5, pp. 10-29
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
There is growing awareness about the home environment’s contribution to educational inequalities, even from the earliest ages. However, very little research has been conducted on parental beliefs about
involvement in their children’s early learning. This study asks: (1) How do parents from different
American socioeconomic backgrounds describe their role in their child’s early education? (2) What
messages do parents report receiving about their role in their young child’s education? By gaining a
better understanding of these beliefs it may be possible to better prepare tomorrow’s early childhood
caregivers and to design more effective interventions, especially for children from disadvantaged
communities.
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