How Are Parents Disciplining Their Preschool Children?

Abstract

The way parents disciplining their children become a hot issue in parenting practices, viewed from the aftereffect of disciplining. The purpose of this study was to investigate types of parents' disciplining behaviour on their preschool children. Participants were assessed using Dimension of Discipline Inventory (DDI, form P) with some modifications. Fifty six mothers and eight fathers with children from 3-6 y.o were participated in this study. The age range of participants is from 27 y.o until 46 y.o (mean = 35 y.o). The participants' level of education was varied from High School to Doctoral, with various ethnic backgrounds. Survey method was used in this study. They completed a demographic form and were asked about parents responsibility in disciplining their children behaviour by children that parents perceived as undesirable behaviour and needed to be changed (both minor and serious), and discipline behaviours they used. Participants' answers were recorded and categorized, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The answers of scale items were counted and grouped into 9 discipline method scales: corporal punishment, psychological aggression, diversion, explain/teach, reward, deprivation of privileges, penalty task and restorative behaviour, ignore misbehaviour and monitoring; and also into 4 factors of higher order: aggressive discipline, positive discipline, penalty, and supervision. The result showed that most of participants shared responsibility equally with the other parent. Children behaviours that perceived as minor by parents are like hard to wake up in the morning and do not like to tidy up after playing, and children behaviours that perceived as serious are like hitting, lying, and throwing things. From four types of disciplining behaviour, most of participants used positive discipline, followed by supervision, penalty, and last is aggressive discipline.