Views of Native Parents About Early Childhood Education

Abstract

Forty-eight parents from three First Nations communities in Ontario were interviewed about the value of play and the place of play in early childhood programs. Parents valued play as an appropriate activity for young children and as the way of learning in early childhood. In addition, parents approved of play-oriented programs in daycare centers. Parents made a number of valuable suggestions about child care in general and openly ex­ pressed some of their concerns. Issues important to parents were raised such as the amount of parent involvement in centers, daycare as an opportunity for cultural transmission, and daycare staff training.