A Westemised model of parenting dominates the literature, and is largely the model against which all other parenting practices are compared. This study aimedto address whether the principles inherent in this model, actually fonn the basis of South African parents' ideas of 'well brought-up' children. Focus groups were conducted on groups of white (English and Afrikaans), coloured, Indian and black (urban, Zulu) mothers, and then qualitatively analysed. Family demographics and variables, such as stress levels and socioeconomic status, were also compared across groups. Some characteristics such as love, respect, consideration and obedience were important for all groups, whereas independence, individuality, honesty, religion and education were discussed in only some of the groups. The findings may prove useful for developing localised parenting programs, enhancing understanding across the groups, furthering education, and stimulating further research. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

M.A. / From both a practical and a theoretical viewpoint, it seemed necessary to formulate a parent education programme that highlighted in terms of content both the needs and developmental tasks of the adolescent. In order to confirm the content on the process level of this programme, it was important for the adolescent to be involved in the presentation of the programme. The purpose of the research was therefore to formulate and evaluate a parent education programme with the adolescent as partner. The assumption was made that the programme would be more effective, should the adolescent be involved in the presentation thereof, than should the mother be the sole participant. The programme that was formulated for this research is an integration of several approaches to parent education. Relevant information with regard to the developmental stages of both parent and adolescent was included in the programme. Specific importance was however placed on the parent-adolescent relationship and on communication skills •. A single subject research design was used to evaluate the programme. Two middle aged mothers and their two adolescent daughters were used as subjects. In the case of the experimental sample, both mother and daughter attended the programme. The control sample, however, was only represented by the mother's participation in the parent education programme. Target behaviours were defined in operational terms for the research in order to make possible the objective observation thereof. Each person's target behaviours were seperately observed, but the comparison of the two mothers' behaviours, as well as that of the daughters, was made possible by graphic representations.

D.Ed. / A child is educated with the aim of being able to comply with all the demands of life. One of these demands is having an occupation. In our contemporary society, the demand for work is far greater than the supply, which leads to unemployment. This is one reason for the actuality of this research. The lack of entrepreneurs is a national problem. Generally, parents are of the opinion that someone out there is waiting to employ their child. Children are thus brought up to believe that they must be employees or job seekers. At an early stage, the awareness and attitudes of the youth can be changed by means of entreprenedrial education as a method of combatting unemployment. This study concerns the task of the parental home as creator of a culture characterised by entrepreneurship. A twofold approach, consisting of a literature study (chapters 2-4) and an empirical study (chapters 5-6) was used. The purpose of the study is to determine: • what is understood by entrepreneurship (chapter 2); • the task of the parental home (chapter 3) and • the contribution of the parental home to the encouragement of entrepreneurship (chapter 4). The empirical investigation was undertaken with reference to the above theoretical framework. Teachers and businessman in the Springs Magisterial District were involved in the research. The purpose of this research is to determine which factors or circumstances in the parental home encourage entrepreneurship. Since this information could not be acquired by means of a known or existing instrument, a suitable instrument was designed.

Thesis (MA)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In all communities parents want to pass on strategies that will promote the survival of their children and foster their cultural competence. The ‘component model of parenting’, formulated by Keller (2000; 2007), captures universal propensities of parenting as well as cultural differences. The model hypothesizes that parenting styles are composed of different parenting systems, namely primary care, body contact, body stimulation, object stimulation, face-to-face interaction, and vocal stimulation. The proximal parenting style emphasizes primary care, body contact, and body stimulation, while the distal style of parenting focuses on verbal exchanges, object stimulation, and face-to-face interaction within the context of exclusive attention. According to Keller (2007), the dominance of certain systems over others can vary across cultural communities. This study aims to examine the cross-cultural conceptions of different adaptive and non-adaptive attachment qualities in three month old infants and their caregivers. This study explores whether culture-specific norms affect the development of different attachment qualities. It focuses on describing indigenous conceptions about parenting practices, socialization strategies, and caregiver beliefs. The study was conducted in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Participants included 25 mothers living in the greater Stellenbosch area and 29 mothers living in Khayelitsha. The measures included a socio-demographic questionnaire, spot observation videos, a picture card interview, and a socialization goals questionnaire. Data were coded according to coding schemes developed by Otto (2008). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and ANOVAs. The results indicated the Khayelitsha sample favoured a multiple caregiving arrangement, the proximal parenting style, and emphasized the importance of relational socialization goals. The greater Stellenbosch sample favoured an exclusive caregiving arrangement and emphasized the importance of autonomous socialization goals. Contrary to our expectations the greater Stellenbosch sample also favoured the proximal parenting style. The data demonstrates that cultural differences influence parenting practices and strategies. The data reported in this study challenge attachment theory’s universalism and provide an exploratory analysis of the different cultural conceptions regarding adaptive and non-adaptive attachment qualities. Further research using the same methodology needs to be conducted in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In alle gemeenskappe wil ouers strategieë oordra wat die oorlewing van hulle kinders bevorder en hulle kulturele bevoegdheid koester. Die ‘component model of parenting’, wat universele neigings en kulturele verkille in ouerskap inkorporeer, is geformuleer deur Keller (2000; 2007). Die model se hipotese stel voor dat ouerskap style uit verskillende ouerskap sisteme bestaan, naamlik primêre sorg, liggaamlike kontak, liggaamlike stimulasie, voorwerp stimulasie, een-tot-een interaksie, asook verbale stimulasie. Die proksimale ouerskap styl benadruk primêre sorg, liggaamlike kontak, en liggaamlike stimulasie. Daarteenoor fokus die distale ouerskap styl op verbale interaksie, voorwerp stimulasie, en een-tot-een interaksie binne die perke van ekslusiewe aandag. Volgens Keller (2007), kan die dominansie van sekere style bo ander verskil regoor kulturele gemeenskappe. Die studie poog om die onderskye multikulterele beskouinge rondom verbondenheids aanpassings, of gebrek daaraan, by drie maande oue kinders en hul versorgers te ondersoek. Die studie ondersoek of kultuur-spesifieke norme die ontwikkeling van verskillende verbondenheids kwaliteite affekteer. Dit fokus op die bekrywing van inheemse beskouinge omtrent ouerskap, sosialiserings strategieë, en die versorger se oortuigings. Die steekproef ws gebaseer in die Wes-Kaap van Suid-Afrika. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 25 moeders wat in die groter Stellenbosch area woon en 29 moeders wat in Khayelitsha woon. Die maatstawwe het ‘n sosio-demografiese vraelys, 20 op die plek observasie videos, ‘n onderhoud met prentjie kaarte, en ‘n sosialiserings doel vraelys ingesluit. Die data was gekodeer volgense koderings skemas wat deur Otto (2008) ontwikkel was. Die data was toe geanaliseer met beskrywende statistiek, t-toetse, Mann-Whitney toetse, en ANOVAs. Die resultate toon dat die Khayelitsha steekproef ‘n verskeie versorging benadering en die proksimale ouerskap styl verkies het. Hulle het die belangrikheid van verwante sosialiserings doelwitte benadruk. Die groter Stellenbosch steekproef het ‘n eksklusiewe versorgings benadering verkies en het die belangrikheid van autonome sosialiserings doelwitte benadruk. Teen verwagtinge het hulle ook die proksimale ouerskap styl verkies. Die data dui aan dat kulturele verskille beïnvloed ouerskap praktyke en strategieë. Die data wat in hierdie studie gerapporteer is, bevraagteken gehegtheidsteorie se universalisme en verskaf ‘n verkennende analise van die verskillende kulturele opvattings oor aanpasbare en nie-aanpasbare gehegtheids eienskappe. Verdere navorsing volgens dieselfde metodes moet nog in Suid Afrika gedoen word.

PhD (Sociology) / Department of Sociology / The purpose of this study was to critically determine the impact of communal child-rearing approach on the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Vhembe District, in order to develop facilitation tools from which the parents can be empowered on the constructive parenting approaches, specifically for a girl-child and teenage girls against the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. This study further empowers the teenage girls in particular growing-up in Vhembe District with the chance of healthy development and future favourable womanhood. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used to conduct the study, with a quantitative description and exploratory study design. A total of 400 participants, mainly teenage girls, participated in a quantitative approach. Then 16 pregnant teenage girls, 19 teenage mothers, 6 key informants and 23 parents of pregnant teenage girls and mothers participated in a qualitative approach. The participants for the quantitative approach were sampled using the stratified random sampling technique because of the age-specific (13-19 years). Close-ended questionnaires were administered to them. The participants for in-depth interviews were sampled using the purposive and snowball non-random sampling technique. They were high school principals, teachers, and community leaders, pregnant teenage girls and teenage mothers, and their parents. Data collected through close-ended questionnaires were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. Frequencies tables were created to categorize variables and cross-sectional frequencies tables were further created to show associations between the variables. The data collected through structured interviews, matrices were created using content thematic analysis. The responses were grouped thematically and, with the emergence of subthemes, broad categories were generated to differentiate and explain the thoughts expressed by the participants. The study findings suggest that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is purely a social behavioral problem develop through critical parenting practices and approaches. The study concluded that the total blame for the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is in the way parents raise the teenage girls, whether influenced by their socio-economic status, cultural values, availability or absence of the other parent, etc. the primary lack of sensitive parenting recognition of the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, critically placed the teenage girls in Vhembe District in the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. / NRF

The phenomenon of interracial couples who are also parents is on the increase in South Africa, since one in every four marriages is interracial. An empirical study was undertaken to conduct applied, exploratory, descriptive, evidence-based research to describe the perspectives of interracial parents as related to Gestalt Theory, parenting challenges and strategies towards a sense of self and cultural identity of their children. A qualitative approach utilizing an open ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with six interracial parent couples was transcribed and analysed. The study concluded that interracial parent couples’, in respect of dealing with societal-non-acceptance of themselves and their “mixed” children, utilize several strategies including avoidance and focusing on the positive; that certain aspects play a vital role in the formation of their children’s sense of self and cultural identity such as religion or faith and both parental identities.The implication of this research is that despite the challenges there are no marked effects on their children’s identity and that interracial parenting strategies must be sound. / Social Work / M.A. Diac. (Play Therapy)

A literature and an empirical study were undertaken to investigate home factors affecting the academic performance of a group of learners in three primary schools in the Brits district. From the literature it became evident that the early years of an individual's life are critical for development, especially cognitive development. Parents, as a child's primary educators have an important role to play in their child's cognitive development. By establishing a challenging and stimulating environment in which the child is exposed to a variety of experiences, the parents can enhance their child's cognitive development and by implication his/her later academic performance. Various other factors such as parental involvement, expectations, parenting style and home background were found to affect a child's academic performance. In the empirical study a group of academic achievers and underachievers were compared with regards to early cognitive stimulation received, degree of parental involvement and the quality of their homes. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

The phenomenon of interracial couples who are also parents is on the increase in South Africa, since one in every four marriages is interracial. An empirical study was undertaken to conduct applied, exploratory, descriptive, evidence-based research to describe the perspectives of interracial parents as related to Gestalt Theory, parenting challenges and strategies towards a sense of self and cultural identity of their children. A qualitative approach utilizing an open ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with six interracial parent couples was transcribed and analysed. The study concluded that interracial parent couples’, in respect of dealing with societal-non-acceptance of themselves and their “mixed” children, utilize several strategies including avoidance and focusing on the positive; that certain aspects play a vital role in the formation of their children’s sense of self and cultural identity such as religion or faith and both parental identities.The implication of this research is that despite the challenges there are no marked effects on their children’s identity and that interracial parenting strategies must be sound. / Social Work / M.A. Diac. (Play Therapy)

A literature and an empirical study were undertaken to investigate home factors affecting the academic performance of a group of learners in three primary schools in the Brits district. From the literature it became evident that the early years of an individual's life are critical for development, especially cognitive development. Parents, as a child's primary educators have an important role to play in their child's cognitive development. By establishing a challenging and stimulating environment in which the child is exposed to a variety of experiences, the parents can enhance their child's cognitive development and by implication his/her later academic performance. Various other factors such as parental involvement, expectations, parenting style and home background were found to affect a child's academic performance. In the empirical study a group of academic achievers and underachievers were compared with regards to early cognitive stimulation received, degree of parental involvement and the quality of their homes. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Grandparents fail to communicate sexual matters to the youth. It is their duty to initiate this communication. The escalating numbers of sexually transmitted infections among the youth require grandparents as carers to talk openly. The main purpose of the study was to support grandparents in their communication about sexual matters to the youth. In-depth phenomenological focus group interviews were conducted. Data analysis revealed three themes: grandparents' experience of communication, emotional experience, and the experience of political and social influence. The study developed guidelines for grandparents. The limitations of the study involve the research sample, which was not truly representative of the whole population of East London. The study recommends that all stakeholders be involved in supporting grandparents in their communicating sexual matters to the youth. The researcher recommends further research to describe youth perceptions of communicating sexual matters to grandparents / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)