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Parenting and Academic Socialization of Young Children: Sociocultural Context for Early Childhood Development in South Asian Families

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Abstract

Psychological literature suggests that parents play a valuable role in children’s academic development across cultural communities. Research on this topic, however, is limited among non-Western families and especially South Asian families. Couched within the bioecological systems theory, this chapter discusses parental roles in children’s academic socialization and its link to early childhood development in South Asian families. Historically, deep-rooted yet diverse traditions of cultural and religious beliefs and social norms define parental practices and underscore the importance of parents’ high expectations and engagement in children’s education across South Asian societies. Based on the extended family network and intact family environment, parents, especially fathers, observe sociocultural and religious values by showing high involvement in children’s educational activities. Contemporary parents across economic, social, residential, and religious groups are moving away from the gender-linked model of academic socialization. These changes encourage both male and female children to be equally successful in school. Parents’ engagement demonstrates positive developmental outcomes in children. These findings are discussed in relation to evolving socioeconomic praxes and age-old cultural and religious values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Ziarat Hossain & Giovanna Eisberg

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  1. Ziarat Hossain
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  2. Giovanna Eisberg
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Correspondence to Ziarat Hossain .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Science, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, USA

    Brien K. Ashdown

  2. Hiatt School of Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA

    Amanda N. Faherty

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Hossain, Z., Eisberg, G. (2020). Parenting and Academic Socialization of Young Children: Sociocultural Context for Early Childhood Development in South Asian Families. In: Ashdown, B.K., Faherty, A.N. (eds) Parents and Caregivers Across Cultures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35590-6_7

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