The Bridge: A Group for Chinese Immigrant Parents Transitioning Their Children to an American Preschool

Abstract

Entering the school system is a life-changing experience for children and families, dramatically expanding the social world of the child and injecting a broad range of cognitive, social, and cultural influences on his or her development. This is especially true for immigrant children and families who are faced with the additional task of negotiating the push and pull between retaining a cultural identity and assimilating into mainstream society. This article explores the role and potential impact of an educational support group for Chinese immigrant parents who enroll their children in American preschools. It delineates the successes and challenges. It also suggests a framework for group work with immigrant parents, especially from Chinese descent, with particular consideration to the influence of cultural, environmental, and worker factors on group process.