LANGUAGE STIMULATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF SOCIAL MATURITY AVAILABLE TO PRESCHOOLERS (3–6 years) OF GUJJAR TRIBE FROM DISTRICT UDHAMPUR

Sarika Manhas; Shivangi Gupta

Volume : V, Issue : IX, September - 2015

LANGUAGE STIMULATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF SOCIAL MATURITY AVAILABLE TO PRESCHOOLERS (3–6 years) OF GUJJAR TRIBE FROM DISTRICT UDHAMPUR

Sarika Manhas, Shivangi Gupta

Abstract :

Preschool years of life are the golden years for laying a good foundation for a lifelong system of thoughts and feelings about self and others. Environment has a powerful impact on the competence development of the child as it can accelerate or slow it down. But majority of the tribal children in our country do not receive the required rich environment and stimulation at home for their natural growth and development. The present study was undertaken to analyse the language stimulation and encouragement for social maturity available to preschoolers (3–6 years) of Gujjar Tribe from District Udhampur. The total sample for the study comprised of 92 preschooler–mother dyads selected from settled Gujjar families. A modified version of Mohite’s Home Environment Inventory was used to assess the level of stimulation children received at their homes and on spot observations were also used to validate the results. The results of the study revealed that majority of the children received ‘moderate’ level of language stimulation (80.43%) as well as encouragement for social maturity (84.78%). It was noted that most mothers answered their child’s queries verbally, conversed with them about their needs and responded to them in a positive manner and also indulged in non instructional exchange with them. Also, mothers asked their children to perform some tasks at home like taking care of younger siblings but at the same time most mothers were found to be physically nurturing towards their children. Statistically, there was no significant difference between language stimulation and level of encouragement for social maturity received by male and female sample preschoolers. From the findings, it can be summarized that maternal contribution was of adequate quality inspite of disadvantaged living conditions of sample Gujjar children, as they tend to show no major lack in receiving stimulation.