Maternal Teaching Behaviors of Preschool Children in Hispanic Families: Does a Home Intervention Program Make a Difference?

The study examined if a home intervention program designed for Hispanic low-income families would increase maternal teaching behaviors typical of the learning environments that children will meet in school. The sample consisted of 40 mother-child dyads enrolled in a home intervention program and a control group of 32 mother-child dyads. A home intervention program specifically designed for Hispanic low-income families was implemented. After controlling for pretest scores and maternal education, significant differences in maternal teaching behaviors were found between the groups when observed in a teaching task with their preschool children. Program group mothers made significantly more use of questions and descriptions and less use of negative motivation in their instruction compared to the control group. Significant correlations indicated that the pattern of highly correlated teaching behaviors was different for the two groups over time. Results of this study are discussed in terms of bridging the discontinuity between home and school for Hispanic families. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]