Professional Development of Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers for Collaboration with Parents

With initial education, practice and life long learning, educational staff develop knowledge, skills, abilities, as well as values and attitudes necessary for holistic approach to child development. Beliefs and attitudes can significantly determine how an individual will act. Therefore, in order to determine the differences in child-rearing beliefs and the image of the child between parents in teaching and non-teaching professions, a survey was conducted on a sample of 544 respondents with completed tertiary education. The sample consisted of 247 parents in teaching professions (kindergarden teachers, teachers, pedagogues) and 297 parents in non-teaching professions (economics, law, healthcare, engineering). The general hypothesis of this research was that there is no difference in child-rearing beliefs and the image of the child between parents in teaching and non- teaching profession. However, the results have revealed some differences. Kindergarden and elementary school teachers, more so then respondents of other professions, think that it is not necessary at all to use corporal punishment, but to be more actively involved instead and use induction in the upbringing of children. They also have a more contemporary view of the image of the child. Based on all obtained results, it is possible to conclude that educational staff should be more engaged in the development of parental competence.