Adaptive Child Rearing Practices Among Parents of Children With Autism at the Pre-Operational Developmental Stage in Lusaka, Zambia

Child-rearing practices are critical in supporting the development and daily functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder. Existing literature often categorises parenting into fixed styles, including authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, helicopter and lawn mower parenting. However, these categories may not capture how parents adapt practices to changing developmental and behavioural needs. The study was conducted at Bauleni Special School in Lusaka, Zambia. This study explored child-rearing practices among parents of children with autism at the preoperational stage, focusing on their dynamic and adaptive nature. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm, a hermeneutic phenomenological design explored the lived experiences of six purposively selected parents from Bauleni Special School whose children have a formal diagnosis of autism. Data from semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations were analysed thematically. The number of themes that emerged were four, which included Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive, and Lawn mower parenting approaches. The findings showed that parents shifted between supportive, controlling, protective and accommodative practices according to children's developmental abilities, sensory needs and situational demands. Routines, patient guidance, positive reinforcement, and gradual teaching promoted development and independence in their children, while increased supervision, environmental modification, avoidance and stricter control were used during distress. Child-rearing practices were therefore dynamic and adaptive. Therefore, understanding parenting as context-responsive can inform appropriate support systems for parents of children with autism in Zambia. It is worth noting that due to the research sample size being small and confined to Bauleni Special School, the results may not be generalised but create an opportunity for wider and further research to be conducted.