A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work. / The study sought to investigate the relationship of maternal and paternal attitudes and child-rearing practices towards children of different birth order positions. The research also investigated possible differences in the childrearing practices and attitudes toward" their children, of parents who had a child that stuttered, and of parents ill which there was no child wuo stuttered in the family. The research was conducted among a selected sample of forty three families who were matched on certain variables. Group A comprised thirty families in which there was no child who stuttered, and Group B comprised thirteen families each of whom had a child who had been identified as suffering from the disorder of stuttering. The data were collected by means of a postal questionnaire, and then analysed quantitavely and qualitatively using various statistical analyses. Selected variables were studied in an attempt to assess the possible effects on children as a result of birth order, parenting and stuttering. Findings revealed that parental attitudes towards the children of different birth order positions were not significantly different, However, the parents' expectations of and perceptions of their firstborn child's intelligence differed from their expectations and perceptions of their other children, No differences in child-rearing were identified between the parents of children who stuttered. and the parents of children who did not stutter. However, the parents in Group B reflected more confidence in their parenting skills. Religious centres were identified as being a popular venue for parenting programmes especially for the parents in Group A. Practice guidelines for social workers rendering services to the family in which there was a child who had the disorder of programmes were enumerated. Social workers need to be aware of the individual in interaction with an levels of the ecosystem. Social workers must also take cognizance of alternate family structures, the importance of the father in the development of the child and for Inclusi..a in therapy and benefits and methods of parenting programmes as a preventative tool to alleviate the possibility of future pathology. / Andrew Chakane 2018

The role transport plays in enabling people access to services is very important. However, transport for school going children in rural areas has not been given much attention. Transport programmes aimed at improving access to schools by rural children cannot be successful in their formation and implementation without the full participation of parents. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to learn about the factors influencing caregivers' choices of the modes of transport for their school going children and to establish how caregivers view the importance of transport for their school going children, particularly in rural areas. One hundred and twenty six respondents were interviewed in this study. Two focus group interviews were conducted with teachers from eZinyonyana Primary and Mthende High Schools. It transpired that the majority of children walk to school. Most parents are aware of the problems associated with walking. However, the majority of them did not believe that walking could impact on their children's performance at school. This belief, though, differed with parents who perceive themselves too distant from school, hence believing that walking can affect their children's performance at school. Also, the majority of caregivers from communities furthest from schools believed that the availability of transport could improve their children's performance at school. They expected the government to provide transport for learners as most of them felt that even if transport can be made available, they could not still afford it since they are not employed. Although aware of the dangers associated with walking, some parents did not feel they could accompany their children school. This task was entirely left with the older children who are supposed to look after the younger ones on their way to and from school. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

This study investigated Black and Indian South African's estimates of their own intelligence and that of their first two children. Parents gave estimates for seven types of intelligence (Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences) and overall intelligence. The purpose of this study was to establish if gender and/or cultural differences existed in the estimates of intelligence. The participants were asked to complete a brief one-page questionnaire, the 'estimates of intelligence' questionnaire, which has been used in previous studies in this field (Furnham et al, 2004; Furnham et al, 2002a; Furnham & Mkhize, 2002; Furnham, 2000; Furnham et al, 1999; Furnham & Baguma, 1999, Furnham & Gasson, 1998). The results indicated that Indian South Africans gave higher estimates of intelligence than Black South Africans for their own intelligence and that of their children (first and secondborn children). In addition, mothers were found to give higher self-estimates for musical intelligence than their male counterparts. No gender differences were found for parents' estimates of their first and second-born children. In comparing parents' estimates of their own intelligence as compared to their children, parents gave higher estimates of their own intelligence. The predictors of overall intelligence were also explored. Parents were also asked to answer six close-ended questions, which investigated their views of intelligence and intelligence tests. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

This study investigated which childhood behaviours and emotions are considered "acceptable" and "not problematic" by Black isiZulu speaking parents and caregivers. It further investigated which childhood behaviours and emotions were considered "unacceptable" and "problematic" by Black isiZulu speaking parents and caregivers (N=97). Data were collected by the use of the Behaviour Screening Questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 39 words describing the way children of 4 or 5 years feel and behave. The selection of the health domains included in the questionnaire was guided by the research on developmental psychopathology, the dimensional approach. The item format in the questionnaire was categorical: Not concerning, concerning and very concerning. The collected data were ordinal in nature, thus necessitated the utilization of non-parametric method of analysis. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Chi square). Findings indicated that 88% of the behaviours and emotions listed on the questionnaire were considered to be "unacceptable" and "problematic" by the participants in the study. These were largely the externalizing types of behaviours (57%). Thirty-two percent of these were internalizing types of behaviours and emotions. Only 11,6% of the behaviours and emotions listed on the questionnaire were considered to be "acceptable" and "not problematic" for 4 or 5 year old children. The findings of this study confirm the findings of previous research conducted both internationally and locally on the types of behaviours and emotions considered to be "problematic" and "unacceptable" as well as those behaviours and emotions considered to be "acceptable" and "non-problematic" by parents and caregivers in 4 or 5 year old children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

While some research has been done on the use of corporal punishment in South African schools, there is a dearth of research on other forms of punishment and little has been done to research the meaning of punishment. This study explores the meaning of punishment in a high school context and focuses on the different attitudes of parents, teachers and pupils, with a view to identifying, in particular, how they justify the use of punishment. A sample of 50 pupils, 30 teachers and 30 parents were selected for the study. Focus groups and a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions were used to collect the data. The questionnaire was constructed to explore themes which emerged in the focus group discussions . Results were grouped into themes and arranged by tables , and the Chi-square test of statistical significance was used to analyze some of the data. The results show that the meaning and the approach to punishment is differently construed by participants. Parents construe punishment as an educative instrument and a disciplinary measure used for the good of pupils and the society. Teachers see it as a discip1inary measure, a strategy used for effective learning, and a negative stimulus used to inflict pain towards the goal of an orderly school environment. To pupils the punishment scene provides an opportunity for what they perceive as sadistic enjoyment and as something negative which is used by teachers to vent their own frustrations. Participants agree that clear, consensually agreed upon rules should be set to regulate school behaviour and that there should be clear and consensually agreed upon ways of ensuring that these rules are adhered to; and constructive ways of dealing with violation of these rules. The central concern seems to be to move away from a retributive, punitive mode of thinking about punishment, towards a purposeful one. The implications of the research findings are discussed in the context of existing literature in the area and in relation to policy development.