Exploring Indian parents' perceptions of early childhood care and education in two cities of India.
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| Title: | Exploring Indian parents' perceptions of early childhood care and education in two cities of India. |
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| Authors: | Sharma, Varun1 (AUTHOR) sharmavarun84@gmail.com, Sharma Sen, Rekha2 (AUTHOR), Ghosh, Shreya1 (AUTHOR), Mahara, Priti1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal of Early Years Education. Mar2026, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p121-138. 18p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Parent attitudes, *Decision making, *Early childhood education, *English language education, *Child care, *Preschool education, *Child development |
| Geographic Terms: | Mumbai (India), India, New Delhi (India) |
| Abstract: | The early stages of childhood are of utmost importance in terms of development and learning, thus making it crucial to invest in the provision of care and education during this period. An early childhood care and development facility is a crucial initial step in a child's learning trajectory. It sets the foundation for their future learning experiences. However, the selection of a facility by parents is influenced by their perceptions and attitudes. This paper explores parental perceptions and decision-making processes when selecting an education facility for their child. We conducted interviews with 297 parents of children aged 3–6 years in Delhi and Greater Mumbai, India. The results indicate that parents' perception of 'good education' differs considerably from the discourse prevalent in the academic domain. They tend to equate the quality of education solely with English-medium instruction. Furthermore, the study reveals that parents are generally unaware of the substantive content encompassed in preschool education, leading to its absence in their decision-making processes. The findings suggest that the lack of understanding of developmentally appropriate early childhood education among parents is a significant deterrent to ensuring the right kind of pre-school education, and hence efforts should be made to bridge this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Abstract: | The early stages of childhood are of utmost importance in terms of development and learning, thus making it crucial to invest in the provision of care and education during this period. An early childhood care and development facility is a crucial initial step in a child's learning trajectory. It sets the foundation for their future learning experiences. However, the selection of a facility by parents is influenced by their perceptions and attitudes. This paper explores parental perceptions and decision-making processes when selecting an education facility for their child. We conducted interviews with 297 parents of children aged 3–6 years in Delhi and Greater Mumbai, India. The results indicate that parents' perception of 'good education' differs considerably from the discourse prevalent in the academic domain. They tend to equate the quality of education solely with English-medium instruction. Furthermore, the study reveals that parents are generally unaware of the substantive content encompassed in preschool education, leading to its absence in their decision-making processes. The findings suggest that the lack of understanding of developmentally appropriate early childhood education among parents is a significant deterrent to ensuring the right kind of pre-school education, and hence efforts should be made to bridge this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 09669760 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/09669760.2025.2471291 |
