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‘We practise every day’: Parents’ attitudes towards early science learning and education among a sample of urban families in Ireland

Gilligan, Therese ORCID: 0000-0002-3589-701X, Lovett, Judy, McLoughlin, Eilish ORCID: 0000-0001-7991-7134, Murphy, Clíona ORCID: 0000-0002-6251-5785, Finlayson, Odilla ORCID: 0000-0002-5975-7388, Corriveau, Kathleen ORCID: 0000-0002-6354-1141 and McNally, Sinéad ORCID: 0000-0002-9501-2535 (2020) ‘We practise every day’: Parents’ attitudes towards early science learning and education among a sample of urban families in Ireland. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 28 (6). pp. 898-910. ISSN 1350-293X

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Abstract

Educational policies increasingly emphasise early childhood science engagement. As key influencers in children’s early learning, parents (n=85) attending a science workshop in three urban schools in Ireland were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards science. Seventy per cent of parents believed that science education should begin in the pre-school years, before the age of four. Despite high levels of education, at least half of the parents expressed some lack of confidence in talking about, and in doing science with, their young children. Parents who reported less confidence in doing science activities with their children also reported reduced frequency of activities for five out of the seven science learning opportunities listed. Mothers, compared to fathers, reported less confidence in doing science activities with their children. Findings indicate that parents’ confidence in science may impact early science experiences and highlight parents as a key support for increasing early science engagement.

Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Early science learning; parent attitudes; early childhood education
Subjects:Social Sciences > Education
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Physical Sciences
DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of Language, Literacy, & Early Childhood Education
DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of STEM Education, Innovation, & Global Studies
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
Official URL:https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2020.1836588
Copyright Information:© 2020 The Authors. Open Access (CC-BY-4.0)
ID Code:26243
Deposited On:10 Sep 2021 10:22 by Thomas Murtagh . Last Modified 10 Sep 2021 10:22

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