PICKUP DATA 11 Different discipline then and now More consideration given to "communication with others" now Communication with others is the first priority (Table 11-1). As shown in the table, mothers give the highest priority to greeting and thanking others property (90.5%), followed by peer relationships (70.5%). They may emphasize communication because of bullying, a problem which seems to have greatly influenced their perceptions. More mothers of 1st graders try to make sure that someone is at home when their children come home from school compared with parents of the children in the upper grade of pre-school. As children, parents were told to respect elders (Table 11-2) Mothers were asked to compare discipline when they were children with present-day discipline. When mothers were children, they were most often told to speak politely to their elders, teachers and the elderly (78.7%). "Others" accounted for as much as 62.0%, indicating the diversity of discipline in each household. Comparing the two tables, there is a big generational difference in teaching children basic greetings or expressing gratitude (15.6% vs. 90.5%) and instilling habits such as waking up and going to bed at regular times (6.8% vs. 61.0%). Although parents are concerned about children's habits, lifestyles are changing because parents now tend to stay up late at night themselves.

PICKUP DATA 12 Mothers want their children to be healthy and considerate of others. Expectations of boys and girls based on traditional gender roles (Table 12). Health and good relationships Mothers were asked, "What kind of person do you want your child to be?" They selected the five responses and ranked them in order of importance (See table for the calculation method). An overwhelming number of mothers want their children to be physically and mentally fit, considerate and kind, and someone who does not trouble others. On the other hand, parents least interested in their children becoming a person who graduates from a top-ranking university and can get any job, followed by a person with leadership skills. Mothers think that getting along with others is more important than leadership. Expectations of boys and girls based on traditional gender roles In same areas, there was a big difference of more than 20 points between boys and girls. For instance, more mothers of boys want their children to be sincere and responsible (89.3 points for boys vs. 61.3 points for girls) and to value both work and family (72.5 for boys vs. 34.0 for girls). On the other hand, more mothers of girls want their children to be considerate and kind (341.4 for girls vs. 301.4 for boys); sociable and cooperative (89.5 for girls vs. 59.8 for boys); and to have a happy family life (84.7 for girls vs. 53.9 for boys). Mothers seem to have traditional expectations and think that men should work outside and achieve success while women should stay home and maintain a good relationship with others.

PICKUP DATA 13 Husbands and wives communicate fairly well. Level of communication depends on grade of the child. 75% of wives talk with their husbands fairly often or very often (Table 13-1). The table shows how frequently wives talk with their husbands. 75.6% of them talk with their husband fairly often or very often. On the other hand, 24.4% of them do not talk with their husbands very often or at all. Half of them cited lack of time. Husbands are busy with work and wives are occupied with raising children; they are not able to take time to talk to each other. Husbands and wives talk to each other more often after their children enter primary school (Table 13-2). The table compares the frequency of communication by the grade of the child. While there is no big difference by grade, 73.7% of mothers of children in the upper grade of pre-school talk to their husbands fairly often or very often, and the figure goes up slightly to 77.5% for parents of first graders. When asked how they felt about the communication mothers of first graders also accounted for the highest percentage of those who find their husband's opinions useful and appreciate them. After their children enter primary school, mothers communicate with teachers less frequently than when their children were in pre-school. In addition, at this time husbands and wives have to make joint decisions more often so husbands give advice as needed.

Copyright (c) 2000, Child Research Net, All Rights Reserved.