Russian child care goals and values: from Perestroika to 2001

Abstract

Salient goals and values of early childhood educators in six Moscow child care centers were compared to those of a decade ago (before the collapse of the USSR). Current goals and values were determined from interviews, observations, and recent Russian pedagogical books. Educators’ opinions about changes in children and parents were also ascertained. Good health, kindness, politeness, and appreciation of beauty continue to be important childrearing goals. Changes include more emphasis on goals with an individualistic flavor (happiness and self-confidence), more attention to fostering appreciation for Russian history and culture, and more focus on academic preparation for school. Early childhood educators view today’s children as more relaxed, more spontaneous, more noncompliant, less idealistic and innocent, and less skilled at the time of enrollment than their predecessors. They view today’s parents as more assertive and more knowledgeable about the potential of child care to contribute to children’s development, and yet as investing less time in their children than parents of a decade ago. These changes are related to change in the wider society.