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Parents and Siblings as Early Resources for Young Children's Learning in Mexican-Descent Families

Purdue University

Maureen A. Callanan

University of California, Santa Cruz

This study explored the ways in which both parents and older siblings are important resources for young children 's learning in the home context. Parents from 50 Mexicandescent families were interviewed in their homes and were asked questions regarding the kinds of causal questions their children ask, and the different skills their children learn from one another. Parents reported that their children ask questions about complex phenomena in important domains such as biology, physics, and behavior; and parents generally feel good about, and encourage, these questions. Parents also indicated that their children learn different skills from one another; younger siblings learn mostly academic skills from older siblings, and older siblings learn mostly social skills from younger siblings. Both children are reported to learn mostly through observation and imitation of one another Findings are discussed in relation to the issues of "match" between homes and schools as complementary contexts for young children's learning.

Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 19, No. 1, 3-33 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/07399863970191001


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