On educating disadvantaged parents to motivate children for learning: A filial approach.

The potential use of underprivileged parents in raising their children's academic aspirations has been largely neglected. Training of groups of parents through a client-centered approach, but with specific, structured techniques formulated originally for filial therapy, would provide a much needed new approach for involving parents more meaningfully in the education of their children. Emphasis on improvement of children's motivation for academic pursuits would include demonstration and role playing with parents of positive reinforcement approaches, requiring 10 to 15 minutes daily at home. Feedback and encouragement to pursue these newer approaches in the proposed intimate interaction with their child would be provided in regular group meetings with the parents.