Young children's participation in everyday family and community activity

Patterns of participation in everyday family and community activities are described for children from birth to 6 years of age. Parents or other primary caregivers completed a survey of either family life or community life as sources of children's learning opportunities and experiences. Rates of children's participation in 50 family activities and 50 community activities at different ages were identified and analyzed in terms of similarities and differences in participation patterns. Findings indicated considerable variability in involvement in 100 family and community activities by young children of different ages. Implications for using everyday family and community activities as sources of enriched learning opportunities that enhance children's development are discussed.