Etxadi–Gangoiti scale: a proposal to evaluate the family contexts of two-year-old children^†

Abstract

This paper makes a proposal for the comprehensive assessment of the family context of children aged two years. It offers an updated resource based on recent research into the assessment of family contexts and their influence on children's psychological development. The proposal explores the following areas: Presence of learning materials; Potential for play; Stimulation of cognitive development; Stimulation of language development; Emotional expressiveness; Setting of limits and optimal frustration; Enhancement of self-esteem and autonomy; Observation of mother–child interactions; Father's involvement; Quality of non-parental care; Relations with the extended family and social support network; Stability of the child's social relationships; Relations with the school; Diversity of experiences; Absence of exposure to conflict; Absence of parental stress; and Quality of the physical context. The areas explored are grouped into three blocks: Stimulation of cognitive and linguistic development; Stimulation of socio-emotional development; and Organisation of the social context and physical environment.

Keywords:

• family assessment
• psychological development

Acknowledgements

This paper was originally published in Spanish:

Arranz, E., Olabarrieta, F., Manzano, A., Martín, J.L., & Galende, N. (2012) Escala Etxadi–Gangoiti: una propuesta para evaluar los contextos familiares de niños de 2 años de edad. Revista de Educación, 358, 218–237.

The manuscript was translated into English by Diana Drapper.

This study was carried out with the help of the Jesús de Gangoiti Barrera Foundation (2008).

Notes on contributors

Enrique B. Arranz Freijo, PhD in psychology, is a professor of family and child development at the University of the Basque Country. His research interests include the field of family context and child development.

Fernando Olabarrieta Artetxe, PhD in psychology, is a teacher of developmental and educational psychology at the Basque Country University. His research interests include the field of family context and child development and the field of cultural differences in developmental processes.

Ainhoa Manzano Fernández, PhD in psychology, is a practitioner working at the Etxadi University Psychology Centre. Her research interests include the field of family context and child development and the field of family influences on gifted children.

Juan luís Martín Ayala, PhD in psychology, is a practitioner working at the Etxadi Universitary Psychology Centre. His research interests include the field of family context and child development and the field of family influences on mental health.

Nuria Galende Pérez, PhD in psychology, is a teacher of developmental and educational psychology at the Basque Country University. Her research interests include the field of family context and child development and the field of family context and theory of mind development.

Notes

^† This paper was originally published in Spanish: Arranz, E., Olabarrieta, F., Manzano, A., Martín, J. L., & Galende, N. (2012). Escala Etxadi–Gangoiti: una propuesta para evaluar los contextos familiares de nin˜os de 2 an˜os de edad. Revista de Educación, 358, 218–237.