Chinese Immigrant Parents’ Involvement in Their Children’s After-school Education: Behaviors and Perspectives

Through listening to participants’ own words, this study provides a comprehensive description and analysis of Chinese immigrant parents’ perceptions and behaviours of involvement in their children’s after-school education. It reveals that Chinese immigrant parents were willing to become involved in their children’s after-school education. Although many Chinese immigrant parents faced challenges in the host culture, they sacrificed themselves to support their children’s development. They hold high education expectations for their children, view academics as the most important thing and provide help with their children’s academics. Yet they also want their children to receive a well-rounded education. This study indicates that the Chinese immigrant parents’ behaviours and perspectives of involvement in their children’s after-school education were shaped by Chinese traditional cultural values, parents’ personal experiences, and their understanding of Canadian culture.