Investigation Into the Opinion of Some Selected Nursery and Primary School Teachers on the Roles of Child UpBringing Practice in Early Childhood Education

Investigation Into the Opinion of Some Selected Nursery and Primary School Teachers on the Roles of Child UpBringing Practice in Early Childhood Education

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Child upbringing practices and early childhood education are usually tied to the beliefs about what life is all about and how to sustain it in the society. This is not peculiar to Africa alone, as it is common to all races, there is a greater percentage of influence that child upbringing practices have over early childhood education. Babajire (2000). According to a biblical expression that says teach your child the way to go, so that when he grows up, he will not depart from it”. This expression agrees with the provision in the National Policy on Education (2013) which highlights the purpose of early childhood education as provision of the necessary stimulation and opportunities for the right level and development of the child.

For years, anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists have been providing descriptions of how children are raised within cultures around the world, including the beliefs and practices surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and treatment of young children. According to the UN1CEF consultative group report on early childhood care and development (1993), child upbringing practices are enabled in the culture and determine to a large extent, the behavior and expectations surrounding a child’s birth and infancy. This also influences early childhood, adolescence, and the way these children bring up their children in the future. Furthermore, the submission of the anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists suggest that child upbringing consists of practices, which are grounded in cultural practices pattern, and beliefs, these include breastfeeding and weaning, toilet training, language development, social and emotional development. All of these have impacts on the early childhood education of individuals.

Maduewesi (2007) defines early childhood education or pre-school education as a semi-formal education arrangement, usually outside the home whereby young children from about the age of three to five are exposed through play-like activities in a group setting to social and physical learning which are proportionate to their development until the mandatory age of government-approved formal schooling.
National Policy on Education, the following are highlighted as the objectives of early childhood/pre-school education: To effect a smooth transition from home to school. To prepare the child for the primary level of education. To provide adequate care and supervision for the children while their parents are at work (on the farm, in the market, in offices, etc.) To inculcate social norms. To inculcate in the child, the spirit of inquiry and creativity through the exploration of nature, the environment, art music, and playing with toys. To develop a sense of cooperation and teamwork To learn good habits, especially good health habits. To teach the rudiments of numbers letters, colors, shape, forms, and through play. Thus since the education of the child starts right from home being the first place he interacts, the kind of upbringing practices employed by parents or guardians has lots to do with the education of children in the early years. In other words, there is a significant relationship between the transit from home to the school and the objectives of early childhood education as stated in the National Policy on Education.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

A Series of problems have been identified by scholars in the social sciences which are affecting early childhood education among which are environment heredity and so on. These identified factors tend to indicate the rate at which children in the preschool centers learn, interact and explore. To investigate child upbringing practices and their implication on early childhood education.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the opinion of some selected nursery and primary school teachers, on the roles of child upbringing practice in early childhood education in the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. Specifically, the study sets to achieve

1. Find out if child upbringing practice has an impact on early childhood education?

2. Find out if child upbringing practice has any negative effect on childhood education?

3. Find out if child up-bringing practice has any implication on the behavior and future of the child?

1.4 Research Questions

Answers will be sought to the following research questions

1. Does child up-bringing practice have impact on early childhood education?

2. Does child upbringing practice have any negative effect on childhood education?

3. Does child upbringing practice have any implication on the behavior and future of a child?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

1. There is a relationship between child up-bringing practice and benefit of early childhood education?

2. There is a relationship between child up-bringing practice and any negative effect on childhood education?

3. There is a relationship between child up-bringing practice and any implication on the behavior and future of child?

4. There is a relationship between child up-bringing practice and school environment?

1.6 Scope of the Study

This study is limited to the nursery and primary schools teacher in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. Such nursery and primary schools include: Jolayemi Nursery and Primary School. St. Michael Primary School. Christ the redeemer Nursery and primary. Christ Church Nursery and primary. Luyepo primary school. Lupetoro primary school. Faith foundation Nursery and primary school. Rosen Nursery and primary school. St-Theresa Nursery and primary school. St-Theresa primary school.

1.7 Significance of The Study

The outcome of the study would help to determine the various child upbringing practices employed by parents and the importance of these practices in early childhood education. Also, parents will be able to admit the fact that the child’s up-bringing practices whichever one is employed by the parent affect the education of their wards. The study identify deficiencies in the use of child upbringing practices in early childhood education and offer useful suggestion to parent on the right choice of child upbringing practices. The result of the study also identifies and acknowledges the implication of child upbringing practices employed on the behavior and future of a child and also offers useful suggestions on why a parent should take time to use parenting styles.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

The time frame for this study has made it impossible for the researcher to sample a larger population because it has to be conducted and submitted within a stipulated time. This is the reason why the study was limited to primary school teachers, parents, and guardians in the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Child: – A young person who is not yet an adult.

Child up Bring:- Is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood.

Education:- It is the process of teaching and learning usually at school.

Parenting :- Activity of looking after children Practices:- They are method or custom in doing things.

Style:- How a person or group of people typically does something.

Child up bring:- is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood.