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Maternal Socialization and Kindergarten Children’s Behaviors from Jordanian Mothers’ and Teachers’ Perspectives

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Abstract

This study investigated whether Jordanian mothers’ self-reported parenting practices were associated with their kindergarten children’s prosocial or anti-social behavior based on three parental patterns: nurturance, respect, and power assertion. The participants were 95 mothers with children in the kindergarten level in Jordan. Additionally, 13 teachers of these 95 kindergarten children were also participants. This Parenting Styles Inventory Scale, and the Prosocial and Anti-Social Behavior Rating Scale, developed by Lin (Influences of parenting and teaching styles on young children’s prosocial and anti-social development in Taiwan. Unpublished dissertation, Arizona State University, USA, 1995), were used as instruments. Results indicated that nurturance was the most frequent and preferred parenting pattern of participants. Mothers who are warm and nurturing were more strongly associated with prosocial behavior in their children. An unexpected finding was that mothers with more children were more assertive and strict towards them.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Primary Education Department, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

    Majedah Fawzy Abu Al Rub, Ebtesam Qasim Rababaeh & Intisar Ghazy Mustafa

Authors
  1. Majedah Fawzy Abu Al Rub
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  2. Ebtesam Qasim Rababaeh
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  3. Intisar Ghazy Mustafa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Majedah Fawzy Abu Al Rub.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Parenting Styles Rating Scale

figure a

Number

Sentences

Degree

Almost always

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

1

I am patient with my child

     

2

I give my child reasons for my decisions concerning him or her

     

3

I satisfy my child’s basic needs (food, clothes, housing, transportation, etc.)

     

4

I do not allow my child to be choosy about food.

     

5

I allow my child to express his/her feelings and opinions.

     

6

I take away my child’s belongings for inappropriate behavior

     

7

I have confidence in my child’s ability

     

8

I care about my child’s feelings

     

9

I model nice behavior for my child

     

10

I take my child to the park, playgrounds, movies, library, ballgames when I have time

     

11

I demand my child to follow a regular routine

     

12

I listen to my child and try to understand what he/she really wants to communicate

     

13

I tell my child I “don’t love you” for inappropriate behavior

     

14

I allow my child to ask any kind of questions

     

15

I hug my child when he/she is scared

     

16

Although my child is young, I still explain to him/her what appropriate and inappropriate behaviors are

     

17

I read or tell stories to my child at bed time

     

18

I do not allow my child’s interruption when I’m talking to others

     

19

I carry out what I promise to my child

     

20

I scold my child for inappropriate behavior

     

21

I allow my child to solve problems in his/her own

     

22

I am with my child when I know he/she needs me

     

23

I play with my child

     

24

I require my child to learn some performance skills, even though he/she does not like it

     

25

I ask for my child permission before using his/her things

     

26

I use corporal punishment when my child behaves inappropriately

     

27

I encourage my child to make decisions

     

28

When seeing my child doing something slowly and unskillfully, I still encourage him/her to complete the work himself/herself

     

29

I encourage my child to imitate children’s nice behavior

     

30

I praise my child for good behavior

     

31

I do not allow my child to play certain kinds of toys/games

     

32

I apologize to my child for mistakes

     

33

I yell at my child for whining

     

34

I assign some easy household chores to my child

     

35

When my child misbehaves, I give him/her chances to explain

     

36

I forgive my child when he/she admit mistakes

     

37

I modify my child’s behavior by giving him/her reasons

     

38

I plan surprises for my child

     

39

I am strict with my child

     

40

I comfort my child when he/she is distressed

     

41

I show examples of nice behavior to my child through literature reading or video watching

     

42

I threaten to punish my child in order to obtain his/her compliance

     

43

I ask for my child’s input when making decisions for my family

     

44

I share my true feelings with my child

     

45

I respect my child’s interests without forcing him/her to do something does not like

     

Appendix 2

Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior Rating Scale

Teacher and child information

figure b

Number

Sentences

Degree

Almost always

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

1

Shares toys

     

2

Helps clean up

     

3

Disturbs teacher-led activities

     

4

Grabs others’ things

     

5

Doesn’t share toys

     

6

Take turns

     

7

Disobeys rules

     

8

Starts fights and arguments

     

9

Tattles

     

10

Shares food

     

11

Helps others in need

     

12

Cooperates

     

13

Cheers depressed people up

     

14

Shares ideas

     

15

Help settle peer conflicts

     

16

Cries, whines, shows temper

     

17

Destroys school things

     

18

Interrupts others’ play

     

19

Verbally assaults others

     

20

Says nice things about others

     

21

Sympathizes with others

     

22

Doesn’t take turns

     

23

Invites others to join play

     

24

Comforts distressed people

     

25

Is physically aggressive

     

26

Teases other children

     

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Abu Al Rub, M.F., Rababaeh, E.Q. & Mustafa, I.G. Maternal Socialization and Kindergarten Children’s Behaviors from Jordanian Mothers’ and Teachers’ Perspectives. Early Childhood Educ J 45, 271–283 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0766-6

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