Full course description
Children’s early experiences and interactions within early childhood education (ECE) settings play an important role in a child’s developmental trajectory, experiences that are often assumed to be shared with mothers over fathers. This study offers the opportunity to hear directly from fathers providing their first hand experiences with their preschool children. The benefits of father engagement within ECE settings has been gaining attention; however, there is still a need to further explore fathers’ expectations of ECE programs and how ECE programs can improve and encourage father engagement. This is particularly important within the Latino population. The Latino population has been one of the fastest growing minority population within the United States and an ever-increasing population being serviced within Head Start Programs. Early research on Latino father engagement has held that Latino fathers were often detached and behaved according to stereotyped roles characterized by “machismo” primarily focusing on the negative aspects. The purpose of the proposed presentation will be to present the results of a qualitative study exploring Latino father engagement within Head Start environments. The study explored 20 Latino fathers’ expectations of two Head Start school environments within the greater Los Angeles area. Using a qualitative research design and Ecocultural Theory, the study aimed to understand how fathers make sense of their lives and experiences that would potentially shape how they engage with their young children. Participants will learn how home culture influences a Latino fathers’ view of fatherhood, about the actual activities Latino fathers engage in/perform daily, and Latino fathers’ expectations of and participation with the Head Start programs.
Estimated time: 1 hour