The development of learning as the leading activity for Hong Kong immigrant families in Australia Wong, Pui Ling Fleer, Marilyn 10.4225/03/5817e55a6521f https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/The_development_of_learning_as_the_leading_activity_for_Hong_Kong_immigrant_families_in_Australia/4141884 Many parents work hard to foster a culture of learning early in their children's development. The desire for children to learn as early as possible is common among Hong Kong-Australian families. These children continue to perform well academically. Little is known about the pedagogy that underpins such development in the family or on the appropriateness of this for children's development. Through an intensive case study of three Hong Kong-Australian families investigating their family practices, it was found that learning as a leading activity can be established at an early age. Such findings problematise the expected norms and milestones for traditional maturational theories of child development, as well as raising questions about the specific aspects of leading activity and periodisation promoted by cultural-historical theorists. The findings also reveal the importance of cultural and temporal factors in the development of pedagogical approaches in families.<div><br></div><div><div>International Research in Early Childhood Education, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 18-34</div></div> 2016-11-01 00:44:07 monash:131038 1959.1/1048487 Cultural-historical theory Child development Leading activity Learning Hong Kong-Australian families Family studies collection(s) Monash University Faculty of Education papers collection(s) IRECE Journal text journal article 1838-0689 Early Childhood Education (excl. Maori) Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators Curriculum and Pedagogy Theory and Development