How Parents Appraise Their Child's Development

The accuracy with which parents appraise their child's development suggests they have a wealth of knowledge about children's learning and behavior. However, numerous studies suggest that parents are not well-informed. How parents appraise their child and use information about development in the appraisal process is explored in this study. Subjects were 100 parents waiting in pediatric offices with their children aged 2 weeks to 71 months. Parents' appraisals of their child's learning were explored in a structured interview. A four-part model of the appraisal process is proposed: Parents were found to observe and compare, appraise, and explain their child's development often seeking information about development by comparing their child with other children. Suggestions are given for parent training and further research.