Representations of ideal parenting and difficulties
Alessandra Gigli, Nicoletta Chieregato, Chiara Borelli
The paper presents data from a qualitative research aimed at gaining insight into the views of a sample of 43 parents with children attending 0-6 educational services in the Municipality of Livorno. The research aim is to stimulate reflections with educators on educational alliance practices. Data regarding representations of ideal parenting and difficulties expressed by parents are presented in this paper. The abductive thematic analysis of the data, collected in 7 focus groups, highlights profiles of intensive, reflective-interrogative, normative-transmissive parenting, and shows difficulties related to perceived ineffectiveness and lack of time/energy, as well as problems related to the presence of other educational figures. The findings prompt reflections on the importance of implementing actions to support parenting reflexivity, with particular attention to the issue of intensive parenting and the educational risk factors involved.
Keywords
Ideal parenting, Parenting difficulties, 0-6 educational services, Parenting support, Intensive parenting.
