Having a child with disruptive behaviour problems : parents' perspectives about the educational system

Abstract

Parents and teachers are the main source of means for children. Although the responsibilities are deemed to contribute to the children vary from the parent role and the educators’ role. Their input is of both vital for the children development. This study aims to highlight the strengths, stressors, and weaknesses who parents’ that have children with DBPs may be encounter from the educational system. It was apparent from the results that the parents had mixed feelings toward the educators with regards to the communication between them. It transpired that educators have a direct impact on the attitudes he or she choose to adopt. Thus both parents and educators need to understand each other’s challenge. However it seems vital that educators need to consider that failing to understand a child’s situation will then elicit frustration on the part of the parents. As an outcome this will not only influence the parents and educators relationship, but it will also impact the child’s life on more than one level including the emotional and educational learning outcomes. It transpired that parents appreciate to a high degree the psychologist’s contribution in teaching their children’s skills to control their DBPs. Thus the research results indicate that social worker’s direct contact with children and their families in the educational system lacks. Thus various researchers Grouthus (2013); Meilaq (2014) emphasise on the importance for social workers to act as a liaison in the parents and educators communication. As a research instrument, a semi – structured questioner was used to explore the parents’ perspectives. Ten participants participated in this study. The participants were parents who have children diagnosed with a condition/s and are or experienced DBPs. The research focused on the children’s primary level education period. The outcome of this was the parents’ perspectives these included tools that helped the parents and children during the mentioned period in life, the parents satisfactions and frustrations that acquired with the input of the educators involved with their children. During this research a thematic analysis was used. This helped the study structure in themes the parents’ perspectives. There was a high degree of similar perspectives, it was apparent that it depends on who is giving the service to the parents and how they choose to deliver it to the children and parents. This might determine the engagement of parents and children.