The development of the parental reflection checklist for child-rearing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a checklist to improve parental reflections on early childhood rearing. The two-week parental reflection checklist was based on three layer model of three levels and three parts (the parents' self-reflection on their parenting, the parents' reflection on their children, the parents' reflection on others' parenting or another family's children). The participants of the study were 144 parents of 3- to 5-year old children. The questionnaires before and after the checklist was introduced included a reflection scale of the three parts mentioned earlier, and on various scales including: self-consciousness/ self-reflection, parent-child relationship, maternal consciousness, child-care attitude, and view of child. The scores of the questionnaires before and after the checklist suggest that the participants had improved their parent-child relationship after the parental reflection checklist. An increase of child-care attitude of the authority and a decrement of maternal negative consciousness were also suggested.