Family Structure Influence on Children's Social Learning Behavior in Early Childhood Education Centers: Evidence from Likuyani Sub County, Kenya

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@article{1709712,
      author = {Lishindu Maureen Werunga, Leunita Makila, Florence Wanjala},
      title = {Family Structure Influence on Children's Social Learning Behavior in Early Childhood Education Centers: Evidence from Likuyani Sub County, Kenya},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {769-772},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1709712.pdf},
      abstract = {Family structure significantly influences children's early social development, yet limited research exists on this relationship in rural Kenyan contexts. This study examined the influence of family social structure on children's social learning behavior in early childhood education centers in Likuyani Sub County, Kakamega County using a descriptive research design with 214 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers who completed structured questionnaires analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results revealed that the majority of respondents (57.9%) agreed that family structure positively influences children's peer interactions (Mean=3.44, SD=1.235), with children from stable family structures demonstrating significantly better communication confidence (57.0%, Mean=3.49), group cooperation (56.1%, Mean=3.43), and empathy development (55.6%, Mean=3.69), while nuclear families were particularly associated with higher levels of cooperative play (55.2%, Mean=3.39). The study concludes that family structure significantly influences children's social learning behavior across multiple dimensions, with stable family environments?whether nuclear or extended?providing better foundations for developing peer interaction skills, communication confidence, and prosocial behaviors in early childhood education settings, suggesting the need for family-structure-sensitive educational approaches and support systems that recognize diver},
      keywords = {Family Structure, Social Learning Behavior, Early Childhood Education, Peer Interaction},
      month = {July},
  }