Peer-reviewed article
The Effects of Complex Family Dynamics on Early Childhood Development: A Case Study
Straichea Mae C. Tabanao ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how complex family situations affect the development of young children in the Philippines, looking at their cognitive, social, emotional, and moral growth. Researchers interviewed five nursery and kindergarten students and found that many experience emotional neglect, anxiety, and loneliness due to family challenges like divorce, single parenting, and blended families. Despite these difficulties, some children developed coping skills through supportive caregiving relationships. The study recommends increasing parental involvement and adding mental health services in schools.
Key points
- Most students experienced lack of parental support and guidance due to complex family dynamics including blended families, single parenting, and separation or divorce
- Many children reported emotional difficulty, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation
- Some students had difficulty with socializing and following rules
- Nurturing caregiver relationships and effective coping mechanisms provided counterbalance to family challenges
- Recommendations include parental workshops and school-based mental health counseling services
Limitations
This is a small descriptive case study with only five participants, so the findings cannot be generalized to all early childhood students or family situations. The study does not establish causal relationships or compare outcomes between children with different family structures.
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of complex family dynamics on early childhood students' development. This study addresses the cognitive, social, emotional, moral, and coping mechanisms early childhood students adopt. A descriptive case study design and purposive sampling were utilized. Five respondents, from early childhood education nursery and kindergarten students, were interviewed face-to-face while observing proper health protocol. Utilizing Resiliency Theory and Carl Rogers' Self-Actualization framework, the study employed a descriptive case study design with structured interviews. Findings reveal challenges such as emotional neglect, isolation, and anxiety, counterbalanced by nurturing caregiver relationships and effective coping mechanisms. The majority of the students experience a lack of parental support and guidance due to diverse, complex family dynamics like blended families, single parenting, and families affected by divorce or separation. In addition, most of the students experience emotional difficulty, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation. Also, many of them need help socializing and following rules and regulations. Recommendations to improve these experiences include workshops and resources designed to foster parental involvement in their children’s education and emotional well-being and establishing mental health services in schools to offer counseling and support for children facing family-related challenges.