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Child–Family Interactions from the Eyes of Children

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A Correction to this article was published on 31 March 2025

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Abstract

The main aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable child–family interaction scale to assess child–family interactions from the eyes of children, and then to examine interaction behaviors according to different demographic variables. Also, the positive and negative interaction behaviors according to children's expressions are examined. The study uses both qualitative and quantitative methods. The sample of the study involves 192 preschool children. Based on a pilot study, three different application methods (face-to-face with puppets, face-to-face with digital material, online with digital material) were used to assess child–family interactions. Results show that the developed scale is valid and reliable. In addition, there were no significant differences between the application methods of the scale. Moreover, significant differences in child–family interactions were found according to gender of the children, socioeconomic status of the preschool, and mothers' educational status, whereas no significant relationship and difference were found according to age of the children and fathers' education status. Although the majority of the child-family interactions in the eyes of children seem positive, it actually depends on the situation. The findings of the study show that scenario-based child–family interactions scale is valid and reliable to use for both qualitative and quantitative methods. It can be also used face-to-face or online with puppets or digital material.

Résumé

L'objectif principal de cette étude est de développer une échelle d'interaction enfant-famille valide et fiable pour évaluer les interactions enfant-famille du point de vue des enfants, puis d'examiner les comportements d'interaction en fonction de différentes variables démographiques. De plus, les comportements d'interaction positifs et négatifs selon les expressions des enfants sont examinés. L'étude utilise des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives. L'échantillon de l'étude porte sur 192 enfants d'âge préscolaire. Sur la base d'une étude pilote, trois méthodes d'application différentes (face à face avec des marionnettes, face à face avec du matériel numérique, en ligne avec du matériel numérique) ont été utilisées pour évaluer les interactions enfant-famille. Les résultats montrent que l'échelle développée est valide et fiable. De plus, il n'y a pas eu de différences significatives entre les méthodes d'application de l'échelle. De plus, des différences significatives dans les interactions enfant-famille ont été trouvées selon le sexe des enfants, le statut socioéconomique de l'école maternelle et le niveau d'éducation des mères, alors qu'aucune relation et différence significatives n'ont été trouvées selon l'âge des enfants et le niveau d'éducation des pères. Étant donné que vous avez un troisième objectif qui concerne les interactions enfant-famille positives et négatives aux yeux des enfants, il devrait y avoir un résultat ici à ce sujet. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que l’échelle d’interactions enfant-famille basée sur des scénarios est valide et fiable pour une utilisation à la fois qualitative et quantitative. Elle peut également être utilisée en face à face ou en ligne avec des marionnettes ou du matériel numérique.

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  1. Early Childhood Education Department, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey

    Özlem Dönmez

  2. Early Childhood Education Department, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ozana Ural

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Dönmez, Ö., Ural, O. Child–Family Interactions from the Eyes of Children. IJEC (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-024-00404-2

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