Parents’ perfectionistic tendencies and children’s early numeracy competence: the mediating roles of children’s executive functions and numeracy interest

Mechanisms underlying the relations between parents' perfectionistic tendencies and young children's mathematical abilities

“…Cheung et al (2022) found that Hong Kong parents' perfectionistic strivings over children's learning were positively linked with young children's numeracy abilities via young children's executive functioning and numeracy interest. Meanwhile, parents' perfectionistic concerns about children's learning had a direct negative link with young children's numeracy abilities, as well as indirect links via young children's executive functioning and numeracy interest (Cheung et al, 2022). One limitation of the study of Cheung et al (2022), however, is that it did not explore whether parents' different perfectionistic tendencies were associated with children's mathematical abilities via children's approach or avoidance motivation, although parents' perfectionistic tendencies can impact children's orientation to approach or avoid learning tasks (Harvey et al, 2017), and children's approach and avoidance motivation are crucial to their academic achievement (Huang, 2012).…”

“…To our knowledge, no studies, except for Cheung et al (2022), have focused on the relationship between parents' perfectionistic tendencies and children's learning in the early years. Cheung et al (2022) found that Hong Kong parents' perfectionistic strivings over children's learning were positively linked with young children's numeracy abilities via young children's executive functioning and numeracy interest.…”

“…To our knowledge, no studies, except for Cheung et al (2022), have focused on the relationship between parents' perfectionistic tendencies and children's learning in the early years. Cheung et al (2022) found that Hong Kong parents' perfectionistic strivings over children's learning were positively linked with young children's numeracy abilities via young children's executive functioning and numeracy interest. Meanwhile, parents' perfectionistic concerns about children's learning had a direct negative link with young children's numeracy abilities, as well as indirect links via young children's executive functioning and numeracy interest (Cheung et al, 2022).…”

“…Meanwhile, parents' perfectionistic concerns about children's learning had a direct negative link with young children's numeracy abilities, as well as indirect links via young children's executive functioning and numeracy interest (Cheung et al, 2022). One limitation of the study of Cheung et al (2022), however, is that it did not explore whether parents' different perfectionistic tendencies were associated with children's mathematical abilities via children's approach or avoidance motivation, although parents' perfectionistic tendencies can impact children's orientation to approach or avoid learning tasks (Harvey et al, 2017), and children's approach and avoidance motivation are crucial to their academic achievement (Huang, 2012). Theoretically, when parents show high levels of perfectionistic striving over their children's learning, and expect children to excel academically, children are inclined to feel confident in the classroom (Eccles & Wigfield, 2002;Yamamoto & Holloway, 2010), and perceive learning tasks positively.…”

“…Based on the literature, a proposed model was put forward (Figure 1). Specifically, in view that previous research demonstrates a positive link between parents' perfectionistic strivings and children's numeracy interest (e.g., Cheung et al, 2022), a positive link between parents' academic expectations and frequency of home mathematics activities (e.g., LeFevre et al, 2010;Skwarchuk et al, 2014;Susperreguy et al, 2020), a positive link between home mathematics activities and children's interest in mathematics (e.g., Cheung et al, 2023), and a positive link between children's interest in mathematics and mathematical abilities (e.g., Cheung et al, 2022), we predicted that higher levels of parents' perfectionistic strivings would be associated with better mathematical abilities in children through children's higher approach motivation to learn mathematics. We also predicted that higher levels of parents' perfectionistic strivings would be associated with better mathematical abilities in children through increasing home mathematical activities, followed by increasing approach motivation.…”