Parent-child educational activities supporting the child's school readiness - A Czech example

Abstract

The paper focuses on parent-child activities supporting the preschool child's readiness to enter the primary school. The educational activity is defined as purposeful, aimed activity to develop the socio - cognitive and physical characteristic of a child. The quantitative research based on a questionnaire was conducted with preschool child's parents in Northern region in the Czech Republic. The aim of the research was to find out how parents assess and evaluate individual common learning activities from the point of view of the importance of entry to primary school, also the quantity of the importance of joint activities from the parents' point of view and also clarify any limitations defending parents to be engaged more frequently in common activities. The data analysis from questionnaires with close, semi-closed and open questions showed that parents assess the importance of educational activities, preferring mainly different types of outdoor activities, playing games, art activities and reading books with a child. From the point of parents' view, the key role in child's education and preparation to enter the primary school plays the kindergarten. However, as the main barriers and limitations, the parents consider the lack of time to spend with the child to develop the child's social skills and autonomy. The results point out the importance of parents' reflections on the activities they consider as good-chosen to support the child's preparation for school. As highlighting seems to be the absence of parent's concentrated activities developing the child's social skills that are mainly needed for the easier transition to primary school. (C) 2019 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.UK