Parental concern: increasing involvement and support for early childhood movement learning activities

Abstract

Introduction. Parents must provide movement learning activities for young children. Play activities are an important means of developing children’s motor skills. The Study Aims. This research aims to explore and analyze the role of parents and their level of concern for movement learning activities in children aged 4-6 years. Material and Methods. This study employs qualitative methods with a grounded theory approach, ensuring a thorough and rigorous analysis. Twenty-five parents and eight teachers were surveyed, all parents had children aged 4-6 years, and the teachers had a minimum of four years of experience in teaching. This study implements data triangulation, utilizing open-ended semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis to gather research data. Results. The research results highlight various factors influencing parents’ level of concern, including their understanding of the importance of motor learning activities, availability of time and resources, social support, and perceptions of the child’s abilities and interests. This research shows that most parents are very involved, supportive, and care about their children’s development, although many still focus on improving their children’s academics. Conclusion. These findings can be the basis for educational policies and development programs that involve parents’ active role in young children’s motor development. Practical implications of this research include the development of educational programs for parents and interventions designed to increase their awareness and involvement, as well as promote children’s optimal health and development through movement learning activities. Parents need to understand the concept of children’s movement games as a continuous learning medium in supporting children’s motor skills.