PARENTAL PARENTING STYLES AND FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstrak

Fine motor development is a crucial aspect of growth in preschool-aged children, as it contributes to school readiness, independence, and the coordination of hand and finger movements. Environmental factors, particularly parenting styles, play a significant role in providing the stimulation necessary to support this developmental domain. However, variations in parenting practices often lead to differences in children’s fine motor abilities. This study aims to analyze the relationship between parenting styles and the fine motor development of preschool children. A quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach was employed, involving 34 parents selected through purposive sampling. Parenting style data were collected using a questionnaire, while children’s fine motor development was assessed through structured observation. The results showed that the majority of parents applied a democratic parenting style (82.3%), and most children demonstrated normal fine motor development (79.4%). The Chi-Square test revealed a significant association between parenting style and fine motor development (p-value = 0.003). This study concludes that a democratic parenting style plays an important role in supporting the optimal fine motor development of preschool-aged children. It is recommended that parents provide appropriate stimulation through warm, communicative, and structured parenting practices, and that healthcare providers enhance education on positive parenting and routine monitoring of child growth and development.