Child rearing in poor urban Jamaica

Child rearing practices and attitudes were investigated using a questionnaire, among 75 families with 31--60-month-old children in poor suburban Kingston. A pattern emerged of many social contacts, outdoor activities and authoritarian discipline. While teaching and preparation for school were highly regarded, there was little conscious effort to foster cognitive and language development through play. Child rearing appears to reflect the influences of an African heritage, Western urbanization and poverty. Items from the questionnaire were used to devise an index of stimulation. Developmental assessments (DQs) were performed on a subgroup of 45 children. The results correlated positively with the index of stimulation.