PARENTS’ PERCEPTION OF HOME ENVIRONMENT AS A SPACE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEVEL

Abstract

The home environment plays a crucial role in supporting early childhood development. It encompasses physical, social, emotional, and cognitive aspects that interact in shaping children’s daily learning experiences. However, parental adaptation strategies in managing the home environment are still not fully understood, especially within the local cultural context. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore parents’ perceptions of the home environment as a space that supports early childhood development, focusing on three main aspects: digital media use, physical space, and parenting style. This qualitative study employed an exploratory research design. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews involving five parents with children aged between 2 and 6 years, residing in Selangor. Data analysis was carried out using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that children's use of digital media, when controlled and closely monitored by parents, can have a positive impact on learning. A comfortable and organized physical home environment was also found to influence children's emotions positively. Furthermore, the practice of positive parenting styles at home can positively affect children's behavior. This study confirms that the home environment significantly influences children's holistic development.