Parental values and practices relevant to young children's social development in Taiwan and the United States

Self-reported parental values and child-rearing practices, and teacher-repo rted and observed children's social skills, were compared among families of 40 preschool and kindergarten children in each of three cultural groups: C hinese in Taiwan, first-generation Chinese in the United States, and Europe an Americans in the United States. As expected, both samples of Chinese par ents more strongly endorsed traditional Chinese values and exerted more par ental control over their children than did American parents. Observations o f child social competence during a videotaped family interaction revealed n o significant differences among the three ethnic groups. Ratings of parenta l directiveness and warmth during the videotaped family interaction showed that Chinese American parents, as compared to European American parents, we re rated as significantly more directive but equally warm.