Perception of Parental Love in 4-6 Year-Old Children

During childhood, establishing a healthy bond of love between parents and children is the most important requirement. Feeling and expressing types of love vary in this period. ‘This study aims to describe the typologies of 4 - 6 year old children’s perception of their parents’ love for them. The sample of the study consisted of 240 children. The data in this study were obtained from face to face interviews with children by using the mixed methods. Children were asked questions like "How do you know that your mother/father loves you?". The content analysis of the data obtained from the interviews with children was made. Categories were established about the childrens perception types for parental love. Percent and frequency values of descriptive data were calculated. Differences in gender and age of the children were analyzed with chi-square analysis. When the similarities and differences in childrens expression were analyzed; six different categories were found in parental love perception types of children. These categories were physical contact with parents, parental approval words, spending quality time with parents, being given presents by parent, ensuring basic needs of child by parent and meeting parental expectations. In terms of the gender of the child and parent, significant differences among the types of parental love perception were found. This study drew attention to typologies of the perceptions of parental love generated by children. Considering that in the early years of childhood, healthy parent-child relationship is very much effective upon their relationship throughout the life of individuals; data obtained from research provide important contributions to the field.