Abstract View
Article Title:
MOTHERS PERCEPTION OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
| Abstract: Globally, speech and language development of children has been at the helm of research. There are several factors believed to influence this important milestone in human’s life. However, the perception of people about these factors varies. This study investigated the perception of two hundred (200) mothers on factors influencing the speech and language development of preschool children in four local governments in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Survey research design was used and data generated were analysed using frequency counts and simple percentage as well as inferential statistics involving K-related samples Chi-square. The key findings are: perception of maternal depression, maternal voice, maternal education attainment and school factors plays a considerable role in the speech development of preschool children as well as birth order has significant relationship with speech and language development of preschool children. While maternal voice was found to be the strongest factor, school factor was the weakest. This study recommends active participation of mothers in the development of their wards’ speech and language development, while improvement in their health will go a long way in helping them to achieve this. Hence, women education, relating to child care, as well as fascinating school environment should be considered a top priority by relevant authority as these will help in the speech and language development of children. This study, apart from being helpful to stakeholders in the business of children development, it equally serves as a source of enlightenment and needed information to speech therapists, parents and the general reading community on the extent to which mothers’ factors could influence speech and language development their wards. |
| Keywords: speech and language development, pre-school children, maternal voice, mothers perception |
| Download full paper |
JOURNAL COVER
