| Abstract: | This study shows systematic differences in parenting behaviour across three cultural groups in Hawaii. Japanese-, Caucasian- and Hawaiian-American parents (N =149) are observed as they interact with their young children at the beach. The observed families come to the beach in different groupings. Hawaiian groups are the largest, many consisting of five or more people. Most Japanese families resemble the ‘typical’ nuclear family: two parents and one or two children. More Caucasian and Hawaiian parents come to the beach alone with their children than do Japanese-American parents. Parents in the three groups spend their time differently. Japanese-American parents focus almost exclusively on their children. They play with, watch or take care of them for most of the observed time. They rarely engage in solitary activities, such as reading or sunbathing, or in social activities, such as talking with each other. Caucasian parents engage in solitary activities more frequently. They encourage children to entertain and care for themselves. Hawaiian parents interact extensively with other adults, and Hawaiian children play among themselves without prompting. The Hawaiian parents interact less frequently with their children than do parents in the other groups. These findings are discussed in terms of cultural differences in views of the parenting role, the range of people socializing children and childrearing emphases on independence vs dependence, aloneness vs social involvement and innovation vs imitation. |
