Exploration of the Patterns of Child-Caregivers Interactions Leading to Improved Children Cognitive Abilities

It is now a world widely concerns of developing cognitive development of children both at home and at school settings. However, the general patterns of child-caregivers interactions leading to improving cognitive abilities of these children are rarely academically presented. Hence, this paper is presenting the patterns of child caregivers’ interactions with regard to children’s cognitive abilities. Specifically, this paper aimed at presenting findings on the parents and guardians on the following issues; i) reactions on children’s behaviour, ii) engagement on children’s activities and plays and iii) support on children’s activities and plays, emerged as shared by the respondents. Phenomenology research design was employed in this paper. Qualitative research approach was used; this study was conducted in Bahi local community, the target population comprised of parents and guardians who were living with a pre-primary child aged 2–7. The sample size was 10 (ten) respondents. Data Collection included interviews and observations methods with interview guides and observation checklist tools respectively. The data were analyzed thematically following six stages of qualitative data analysis. It was found that children’s activities which are oriented on real life situations were praised and approved comparing to normal activities and plays. It was further found that parents and guardians have own experiences of child-parents/guardians interactions connected to traditional valued meaning of life, hence their engagements were on those activities. Lastly, there was no support for getting children’s activities materials; rather children were observed searching and collecting local materials in their surroundings. It can therefore be concluded that, the patterns of child-parent/guardians interactions in the Bahi local community is socially determined basing on norms and values of cultural milieu. It is recommended that community, NGOs, CBOs, to increase the cooperation and trainings so as to increase caregiver-children interactions as an avenue for improving issues pertaining to children’s cognitive, social and psychological needs at home.