The Observation of Anglo-, Mexican-, and Chinese-American Mothers Teaching Their Young Sons

Abstract

STEWARD, MARGARET, and STEWARD, DAVID. The Observation of Anglo-, Mexicanand ChineseAmerican Mothers Teaching Their Young Sons. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1973, 44, 329-337. Parents were observed teaching preschool-age children a sorting and a motor-skill game. 6 mothers and their own 3-year-old sons from 7 ethnic groups participated: middle-class Anglo-American (AAm), lower-class Anglo-American (AA1), English-speaking Mexican-American (MAe), bilingual Mexican-American (MAb), Spanish-Speaking Mexican-American (MA,), Englishspeaking Chinese-American (CAe), and Chinese-speaking Chinese-American (CA). Interaction was videotaped. Coders were selected from each ethnic group. Data were coded using a parent interaction code which analyzed programmatic variables: total time, input, and pacing; and' teaching-loop variables: alert, format, child response, and feedback. The single best predictor of maternal teaching, or child response, was ethnicity. Children in this study experienced different learning environments which may result in different skills and expectations brought by them into the classroom.