Parents' Perceptions of Young Children's Social Interest Experiences

The following study explored 14 parents' perceptions of their young children's school-organized social interest experiences. Data were analyzed using interpretive description, a qualitative approach that enables researchers to inform practice by exploring a phenomenon from the subjective view of participants. Data analysis resulted in three themes suggesting that parents perceived their children's involvement in school-organized social interest experiences as influencing (a) their children's self-concept, (b) their children's empathy, and (c) the parents' and children's worldview and sense of citizenship. Results suggest that parents value efforts to foster their young children's social interest development and they perceive benefits for themselves and their children.