Cultural Capital and Home-School Connections in Early Childhood. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, Kyle; Hilgendorf, Amy; Dilworth-Bart, Janean
• Is Part Of: Contemporary issues in early childhood. Volume 15:Number 4(2014)
• Page Start: 329
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Early childhood education -- Periodicals; Children -- Periodicals; Social work with children -- Periodicals; 305.231
• DOI: 10.2304/ciec.2014.15.4.329
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9491

Abstract

This qualitative study was an exploration of mothers' perspectives on home-school connections to better understand the variable ways families engage with schools in early childhood. The study was conducted in the USA, and included 47 mothers with preschool-aged children who participated in semi-structured interviews concerning their children's school preparation. Using a sociological framework and thematic analysis of interviews, the authors identified four themes of home-school connections: the backpack connection, school as a resource, ongoing dialogue with teachers, and a space to advocate. Study findings suggest that practices and attitudes related to home-school connections begin prior to entering kindergarten and may be influenced by a family's forms of cultural capital and habitus. This study offers an alternative viewpoint to the traditional home-school discourse by exploring the family perspective rather than the school perspective. Implications are offered for early childhood educators and family outreach personnel to help support school connectedness in early childhood and beyond.