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Making Meaning of Everyday Practices: Parents' Attitudes toward Children's Extracurricular Activities in the United States and in Italy
Author(s) -
KremerSadlik Tamar,
Izquierdo Carolina,
Fatigante Marilena
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
anthropology and education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1548-1492
pISSN - 0161-7761
DOI - 10.1111/j.1548-1492.2010.01066.x
Subject(s) - ethnography , perspective (graphical) , meaning (existential) , everyday life , competition (biology) , sociology , gender studies , developmental psychology , psychology , social psychology , political science , anthropology , ecology , artificial intelligence , computer science , law , psychotherapist , biology
This article focuses on children's engagement in extracurricular activities from the perspective of middle‐class parents in Rome, Italy, and Los Angeles, California. Analysis of parents' accounts captured in interviews and ethnographic fieldwork reveals that both sets of parents perceive activities as important for children's success. Yet Roman parents consider activities as part of “children's world,” downplaying intense involvement and performance. Conversely, L.A. parents view activities as preparing children for adult life, emphasizing competition and accomplishment. [childhood, extracurricular activities, family, United States, Italy]