Difference of the Relationship between Parents and Two or Three-Year-Old Children: Comparison in Cohort1 (1992-94) and Cohort2 (2003-05)

Abstract

  The purpose of this study is to clarify the difference of parenting and environment for Two and Three-year-old children and to compare Cohort1 (1992-94) and Cohort2 (2003-05).

  One hundred and seventy seven families with two or three-year-old children in parent-child class participated in this research.

  First, it was clarified that there is significant difference of the frequency of playing with friends, more children in Cohort 2 than Cohort 1 had the experiences of playing with friends below 2days per a week. Second, distribution of patterns of mother-child play had significant difference that more children in Cohort 2 than Cohort 1 had no episode of playing with the tunnel and more mother-child dyads in Cohort 1 played with the black tunnel before their mothers approached. Third, it was found that significant difference in mother’s attitude of childrearing and father’s feeling of busy with work. That is, more cohort 2 than cohort 1 mothers have higher score of intrusive attitude toward their children and cohort 2 fathers felt busier than cohort 1.

  It is clarified that playing with friends and the respect for child’s autonomy without intrusive attitude become changing. This study suggests that the experiences of playing with friends can promote children’s motivation toward the unfamiliar object.