Maternal attitudes to the up-bringing of children and the development of the conservation of ouantity

Abstract EN

This is an exploratory study investigating family rearing practices and the child's level of cognitive development as measured through achievement of conservation of number.

A sample of primary school pupils from three different areas of various socioeconomic classesin Khartoum .

They were tested on Piaget' conservation experiment (Total N=300 boys and girls, aged 7-8 years).

The instrument of Parental Modernity Scale (Schaefer, 1987) was administered to the mothers of those pupils in order to measure the degree to which they – mothers – are traditional or progressive in their beliefs and attitudes about child-rearing.

It was found that the mother had effect on the child's cognitive development, since statistically no significant difference was computed.

However, possible explanations for this lack of correlation were discussed.

Girls were found to be inferior in cognitive performance – as measured by a conservation task – than boys, especially in traditional-families where the males benefited more.

Nevertheless, they were superior and did better than boys in progressive families.

Possible reasons for this were suggested.