1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«There were three objectives of this project. The first was to gain an understanding of parenting practices and cultural traditions regarding childhood stimulation in the community. The second objective was to gain an understanding of how the use of the ASQ [Ages and Stages Questionnaire] tool and activities were perceived by primary caregivers in the community. The third objective was to work with caregivers to develop a locally-adapted child stimulation activity.» (p. 28)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
L’échantillon est composé de 28 participants membres de la communauté algonquine de Rapid Lake, Québec ou gravitant autour. Il est composé de professionnels de la santé, mais également d’enfants, de mères, de pères, d’oncles et de grands-parents.

Instruments :
- Guide d’entretien
- Grille d’observation

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«One of our principal findings was that although parents do think childhood development is important, they do not explicitly participate in stimulation through play while at home in Rapid Lake; during their time in the bush however, parenting traditions and roles in play are much more salient. […] Prior to this project, formal childhood stimulation efforts in Rapid Lake focused on stimulation outside of the home, either at the daycare or the elementary school. The ASQ was implemented as a means of promoting awareness of the importance of childhood stimulation at home. Our project, however, demonstrates that caregivers feel judged by this assessment process and stigmatized when their child is identified to have a developmental delay. These findings demonstrate that the ASQ had negative consequences such that primary caregivers no longer wanted to participate.» (p. 33) Authors conclude that «[t]he legacy of historical trauma on parenting practices in Rapid Lake compounds the high prevalence of socioeconomic risk factors for delayed childhood development in Aboriginal communities. These realities highlight the need for community supports to promote healthy childhood development.» (p. 34)