Parents’ perception and practice of early stimulation for 0-3 years old children in urban areas

Abstract

Research on early stimulation in Bangladesh is mostly concentrated on poorly resourced environments and from lower socio-economic background in rural areas. This study aimed to explore parents’ perceptions and practices of 0-3 years old children regarding early stimulation related skills in urban areas of Bangladesh. Data in this study was collected through in-depth interviews with ten parents and focused group discussion with six parents and conducted in hybrid modality- both face-to-face (IDI) and online (FGD). The questionnaire was pretested and translated prior to the actual study. This study aimed to explore, parental perceptions towards early stimulation and its practices with children. Qualitative approach and purposive sample technique were employed in the study. Study reveals that, the parents who have prior knowledge and are working in Early Childhood Development (ECD) field are very much aware and practicing stimulating activities in their daily life. But the parents from non-ECD backgrounds having comparatively unclear perception of early stimulation. The practicing level is quite low as well. The ECD professionals are very conscious and doing different stimulating activities like singing, reciting rhymes, telling stories and playing while whey get time. But the Non-ECD persons, they also do stimulating activities sometimes but are not much aware about its importance and have an addled concept about early stimulation. The benefits of early stimulation associated with other domains (cognitive, psychosocial and language) are mostly overlooked in non-ECD background parents’ responses. Additionally, study reveals that both type of parents is aware of developing socio-emotional skills of their children. The study highlighted that some parents have the understanding that their roles and contribution are important factors for shaping their child's life but some have inadequate understanding and knowledge gap regarding the significance of their involvement through stimulating activities. From the research, it is recommendable that early stimulation, an important and unavoidable factor of a child life need to be spread in mass level.