ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on how selected groups of parents in Moscow interact with their preschool children during their leisure time. Parents' visions vary from one stage of preschool childhood to the next. Changes occur during transfer from early age to junior preschool age. Parenting styles remain largely unchanged during preschool childhood; they change when their children grow older when they tend to employ the hierarchical style more and be less egalitarian. The parents introduce children into a wider cultural world. Parents who employ strict interaction styles — authoritarian and hierarchical — seek to encourage their children to adapt to changing circumstances. Most parents describe positive reactions and the "energy" they feel while being with their children. The style features of parent—child relations — authoritativeness, orientation to equality — are a key factor. Most parents mention positive emotional reactions; these decrease as children grow older.