An investigation of the disciplinary styles and problems of nairobi parents with children in standard eight
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Date
1998
Authors
Kibera, Catherine Wanjiku
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The field of disciplining children has a lot of interest for study because of
it influence on the child's character in adulthood. Unfortunately, few studies have
been undertaken in Kenya in this area. Hence prompting of this study.
A descriptive survey design was used in this study. Questionnaires were
first developed. pilot-tested for validity and then distributed to parents with
children in standard eight in Nairobi. The study sample was drawn from eight
randomly selected City Commission schools in airobi. The sample size
comprising two hundred parents were randomly selected from the sampled
schools and each child took home a questionnaire to be completed by the parent.
One hundred and fifty five (155) parents responded. The questionnaire was to
elicit information on child discipline. Tables were used to present the analyzed
data using descriptive and inferential statistics.
The findings revealed that almost all the children were in the adolescent
age group. They were either first or second borns and had good school
performance. Most families had between three to four children. Many parents
were between 35 - 45 years old and had some secondary education. A large
number were employed and in the middle and high income group. Most of the
respondents were men.
Guided by Bamurinds model parents were classified according to their
dis iplinary approaches. Most parents were found to be authoritative while a few
others were permissive. The chi-square tests showed that the child's school
performance and the parent's level of education affected the parental disciplinary
styles.
Most parents effectively communicated their values and expectations to
their children. They talked and re-explained desired behaviour. In the different
ages parent's methods of discipline changed. Many parents used dialogue with
small children. pre-adolescents and adolescents to correct misbehaviour. In
middle-childhood the use of punitive measures was high.
On other disciplinary issues. parents felt that the Church and teachers had
a positive effect on reinforcing their disciplinary efforts and the media and the
children's peers had negative effects. They also felt that as parents they had the
primary responsibility of disciplining their children and the schocls effort was
secondary. so schools could not fully be blamed for their children s misbehaviour.
Parenting classes were viewed positively by many parents and they felt they
would benefit from shared ideas and other parent's experiences. A few of the
respondents felt that parents were too diverse to fit into a formal classroom
environment.
Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made on
ways in which parents can improve their communication skills and forums that
can be used to educate pajents. Since the influence of education on discipline
cannot be under scored, it was recommended that parenting classes be conducted
using existing forums like Parents Teachers Association meetings, and simplified
parenting classes be introduced to the school curriculum. It was also
recommended that existing forums like the Church, clubs. be used to encourage
open communication between children and parents. Councelling services should
also be made available and affordable. Finally. the researcher recommended that
further research be carried out on this issue.
Description
A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment the for the degree of Master of Education
in Home Economics at Kenyatta University. 1998, LB 3025 .K5