What Mothers Know About Child Development and Parenting in Qatar: Parenting Cognitions and Practices

Abstract

Maternal knowledge is important to parenting behaviors, children’s development and well-being. Mothers’ knowledge of child development has been shown to have a significant influence on the way mothers interact with their children and the learning opportunities they provide. This study was carried out to determine the level of maternal knowledge of child development and whether the level of knowledge varies by content area for mothers living in Qatar. The study also examined the relationship between maternal demographic characteristics and general and specific knowledge levels. The sample of mothers (N ¼ 263) completed the Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory (KIDI) together with the Catalog of Previous Experience with Infants (COPE). Findings indicated that mothers’ knowledge about typical child deployment, developmental norms and milestones is poor. Implications in terms of parent education and clinical practice are discussed.