FACTORS EFFECTING PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Dr. A. Isik Gursimsek
Eastern Mediterranean University

ABSTRACT

Aim of this study was to investigate family involvement to early childhood education in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and to identify specific factors related with parent participation. The sample consists of parents of 268 students continuing different early childhood classes at Famagusta-TRNC. Data was collected by Family Involvement Questionnaire, developed by Fantuzzo, Tighe & Childs, and adapted to Turkish by Gürşimşek, also “Personal Information Form” was applied to collect socio-demographic information. Results demonstrate that, nationality, education level of the parents, number of children in the family, number of children continuing early childhood education and active time spent with the child daily are significantly related parent involvement level. Parents who think that, involving to school activities; “enriches family relations”, “increases parenthood competence”, “develops creativity”,” enriches social environment” and “develops communication with the child” have higher scores in different dimensions of parent involvement.

KEYWORDS

Early childhood education, Parent involvement, School-family collaboration, Family education.

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