ABSTRACT

Educational policies increasingly emphasise early childhood science engagement. As key influencers in children’s early learning, parents (n = 85) attending a science workshop in three urban schools in Ireland were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards science. Seventy per cent of parents believed that science education should begin in the pre-school years, before the age of four. Despite high levels of education, at least half of the parents expressed some lack of confidence in talking about, and in doing science with, their young children. Parents who reported less confidence in doing science activities with their children also reported reduced frequency of activities for five out of the seven science learning opportunities listed. Mothers, compared to fathers, reported less confidence in doing science activities with their children. Findings indicate that parents’ confidence in science may impact early science experiences and highlight parents as a key support for increasing early science engagement.

摘要

教育政策越来越强调幼儿科学的参与。作为影响儿童早期学习的关键因素，对参加爱尔兰三所城市学校的科学研讨会的父母（n = 85）进行了调查，了解他们对科学的态度。70％的父母认为，科学教育应该在四岁之前的学龄前开始。尽管受过高水平的教育，但至少有一半的父母对谈论和与他们的孩子做科学缺乏信心。父母对与孩子进行科学活动的信心较差，他们还报告说，列出的七个科学学习机会中有五个减少了活动的频率。与父亲相比，母亲报告了与孩子进行科学活动的信心降低。