Home-based teaching: what are we asking of parents?

Professional services for young children with disabilities generally expect parents (usually mothers) to carry out teaching or therapy exercises at home. Their advice often implies structuring the work into special daily sessions. In this study, parents were asked to carry out play sessions, and managed 62% of the available days. Reasons for missing sessions were primarily shortage of time or child illness. Mothers were more likely to carry out sessions where their child was of lower ability, and fathers less likely. Discussion concentrates on the need for professionals to vary their expectations and approach with individual parents' philosophies and energies.