Citation

Wallinga CR, Sweaney AL, Walters J. Early Child Res. Q. 1987; 2(2): 119-131.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0885-2006(87)90039-1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study was designed to determine if parental perceptions of children's potential contribution to household work has changed over the past 25 years. Data for this study were collected in 1956 and in 1983. The 1956 sample consisted of 170 white mothers and 210 black mothers of elementary school-age children, and 19 child development specialists. The 1983 sample was made up of 126 mothers and 92 fathers of preschool and school-age children. The Children's Responsibility Scale was adapted from the early Walters, Stromberg, and Lonian (1957) instrument. Median ages were given for boys and girls on 62 household tasks. The results were consistent: parental perceptions have changed very little over time. The major differences were that parents in the 1983 sample estimated older ages for items relating to tasks involving safety. An instructional component was incorporated in the study to test whether preschool-age children (n = 23) were capable of accomplishing household tasks. The results of this component were positive.