Parents and their involvement in children's leisure activities

• Author: E. N. Untaru/R. G. Albu/M. R. Luca
• Position: Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
• Pages: 63-72

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 7 (56) No. 2 - 2014

PARENTS AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN

CHILDREN’S LEISURE ACTIVITIES

E. N. UNTARU1 R. G. ALBU1 M. R. LUCA1

Abstract: The study proposes an analysis of the opinions of the parents of

Braşov concerning the offer of leisure activities for preschool children. The

objectives of this exploratory study aimed at the identification of the leisure

activities in which the children of the interviewed subjects engage, the

reasons why they engage in such activities, as well as at identifying the extent

to which the offer of leisure activities for preschool children is known to the

public and finding manners in which the offer could be improved. The

research method was the semi-structured in-depth interview, applied to 12

subjects. The data analysis reveals the fact that the parents are preoccupied

with the leisure activities aimed at the development of their children’s

personality, and that they are not satisfied with the variety, content and

quality of the services available at present.

Key words: leisure activities, non-formal education, preschool children, in-

depth interview.

1,Transilvania University of Braşov, Romania.

1. Introduction

Th e growth of the young generation, the

development of the preschool children’s

personality and the parents’ involvement in

their children’s education has been a constant

concern of researchers. Any parent wishes a

harmonious development for his child. The

challenges of the contemporary world lead to

a reconfiguration of the roles different forms

of education (i.e. formal, non-formal,

incidental) play in the balanced development

of preschool children.

The meaning of the concept ‘spare time’,

named loisir (in French), leisure (in English)

or freizeit (in German) does not differ

significantly from one culture to another.

Joffre Dumazedier defined leisure as ‘a

complex of activities to which the individual

can dedicate himself entirely according to

his wishes either to recover, to have fun or to

develop his intellect and formation

according to his free will, after having

completed his professional, familial and

social tasks’ [3, p. 29]. Dumazedier states

that the fundamental functions of leisure are

defined by three ‘D’ words: delassement

(detachment), development and divertisment

(eng. entertainment).

According to the Romanian Language

Dictionary the term ‘loisir’ is defined as

‘optimal use of one’s spare time according to

the individual’s wishes and inclinations’

[17]. The term has recently been defined by

economists and sociologists as ‘non-work

time’. It is also regarded as a way of life

marked by a sense of freedom and

independent choice, and as the individual’s

opportunity for achieving self-

actualization". [9, p. 5].