Characteristics of interaction between parents and children with visual impairment at preschool age

Parenting is a dynamic process infuenced by the behavior of both children and parents. Behavior of children with visual impairment is characterized by the absence of language which involves smiling and looking, calming down when focusing on voice, unusual posture, stereotyped behavior, blank face, which can all interfere with parentchild interaction. Objective. The aim of this paper was to determine the characteristics of interaction between mothers and children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities. Methods. The research included a total of thirteen mother-child pairs. Five children had a visual impairment, while eight had both a visual impairment and another comorbid condition. The children were between 10 and 68 months of age (M = 31.62, SD = 19.08). The characteristics of interaction between mothers and children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities were assessed by analyzing videos, while Parenting Interactions with Children - Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes - PICCOLO was used to record the observed behaviors. Results. Interaction between parents and children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities was satisfactory in three domains: Affection, Responsiveness, and Encouragement. Conclusion. The biggest problem for parents was fnding a way to teach their child some activities or to provide information about the environment.Roditeljstvo je dinamičan proces, na koji utiče ponašanje deteta i roditelja. Ponašanje dece s oštećenjem vida karakteriše odsustvo jezika osmeha i jezika pogleda, umirivanje kada su usredsređena na glas, neuobičajeno držanje tela, ispoljavanje stereotipnog ponašanja, bezizražajan izgled lica, što može da ometa uspostavljanje interakcije roditelj - dete. Cilj: Cilj rada je utvrđivanje karakteristika interakcije između majki i dece s oštećenjem vida i višestrukim smetnjama. Metod: Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno ukupno trinaest dijada majki i dece. Od tog broja petoro dece je imalo oštećenje vida, a osmoro, pored oštećenja vida, i druge smetnje. Uzrast dece je bio od 10 do 68 meseci (AS = 31.62, SD = 19.08). Procena karakteristika interakcije majki sa decom s oštećenjem vida i višestrukom ometenošću vršena je na osnovu analize video-snimaka, a za beleženje zapaženih oblika ponašanja korišćena je Kontrolna lista za procenu interakcije roditelja sa decom povezana s razvojnim ishodima (Parenting Interactions with Children - Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes - PICCOLO). Rezultati: Interakcija roditelja i dece s oštećenjem vida i višestrukom ometenošću zadovoljavajuća je u tri domena: Naklonost, Responzivnost i Podsticanje. Zaključak: Roditeljima najveći problem predstavlja iznalaženje načina kako da poduče dete nekim aktivnostima ili da pruže informacije o dešavanjima u okolini