Exploring Parent-Child Relationships Through Interactive Communication and Quality Time in Modern Chinese Families

• In Event: AERA Research-in-Progress Roundtable Session 1
  In Invited Roundtable: Early Childhood Education Research: Student Relationships, Race, Social and Emotional Learning, Development, and Economic Hardship (Table 15)

Abstract

This pilot study investigates parent-child relationships in contemporary Chinese families, focusing on an 11-month-old infant and her mother. Grounded in John Bowlby’s attachment theory, the study employs qualitative methods, including observation, interview, and questionnaire, to explore how interactive communication and quality time foster attachment and trust. Findings reveal the mother’s use of play, modeling, and responsive communication to strengthen their bond while navigating cultural expectations and academic pressures. The study underscores the importance of warmth, shared activities, and adaptive strategies in building secure relationships, offering valuable insights into the socio-emotional development of young children. By bridging existing research with real-life practices in a modern Chinese context, it lays a critical foundation for developing culturally responsive approaches to early childhood development.

Author

• Chunru Dong, University of Maryland