Disciplining preschool children: Parent interaction

This qualitative study explored the interaction within a mother-father dyad regarding child discipline of their preschool child in terms of: (a) their perceived discipline roles, (b) the socialization of parenting discipline style, (c) communication patterns regarding discipline, and (d) discipline problem solving and decision processes. A focused-ethnographic design was used to guide the research process. A purposive sample of 8 mother-father dyads, recruited from daycare, nursery school, and parent support group settings, participated in the study.; The conceptual framework guiding this study is family interaction theory within the context of family developmental theory.; Data analysis included content analysis of the interview transcripts and field notes to identify categories and themes. Data analysis revealed three themes: Learning About Discipline Takes a Life Time; Discipline: So What About It? and Parents: The Discipline Team. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...