Stability and changes in mothers and fathers’ child-rearing practices along child’s pre-school years

O presente estudo teve como objetivo examinar a estabilidade e mudança nas práticas educativas maternas e paternas, em particular o uso de práticas indutivas, coercitivas e de não interferência aos 24, 36 e 72 meses de vida da criança. Participaram 24 mães e pais que tinham um único filho e residiam na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre. Quando as crianças completaram 24 e 72 meses de vida, os participantes responderam a uma entrevista para a avaliação das práticas educativas. Já aos 36 meses, as famílias foram observadas durante o almoço, quando as práticas educativas também foram investigadas. ANOVAs de medidas repetidas indicaram diferenças quanto às práticas indutivas maternas entre os 24 e 36 meses, bem como entre as práticas de não interferência entre os 24 e 36 meses e também entre os 36 e 72 meses. Quanto aos pais, as diferenças foram encontradas entre as práticas indutivas aos 24 e 72 meses e entre as práticas de não interferência aos 24 e 36 meses e aos 36 e 72 meses. Os resultados sugerem que tanto estabilidade quanto mudanças estão presentes nas práticas educativas parentais ao longo do desenvolvimento da criança. Isto pode estar associado ao fato de que à medida que ela cresce, expectativas e comportamentos parentais acabam sendo adaptados às novas habilidades e demandas infantis.The present study had as its main objective to examine stability and change in mothers and fathers’ childrearing practices, in particular the use of inductive, coercive and non-interference practices with 24, 36 and 72 month-old children. Twenty four mothers and fathers who had an only child and lived in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre/RS participated in the study. When the children were 24 and 72 months old, the participants were interviewed about their child-rearing practices. When the children were 36 months old, they and their families were observed during lunch time, with focus on child-rearing practices. Repeated measures of ANOVA indicated differences in maternal inductive practices between 24 and 36 months old and differences in non-interference practices both between 24 and 36 as well as 36 and 72 months old. Concerning the fathers, differences were found between inductive practices at 24 and 72 months old and among non-interference practices at 24 and 36 months old as well as at 36 and 72 months old. The results suggest that both stability and change are found in parents’ child-rearing practices over the course of children’s development. Changes are related to the fact that parents’ expectations and behaviors reflect their children’s new abilities and demands