Experiences of Parenting among Burmese Refugee Mothers: Social Support in a Playgroup

Parenting is a critical element in the wellbeing of children and the focus on early years (Mustard, 2008; Mustard & Young, 2007) has meant increased energy on maximising early childhood learning by considering the influences of family and social/cultural environments on parenting, and connecting with early childhood education such as playgroups, day-care, preschool, and kindergartens. Psychological literature suggests that parenting in an unfamiliar culture can be one of the more significant challenges experienced by refugee families. However, the factors affecting refugee parenting and how parents can be supported continues to be poorly understood.