Influence Of Child-Headed Families On Socio-Emotional Development Of Pre-School Learners In Musengo Zone, Kitui County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Families provide conducive environments which necessitate acquisition of self-esteem, selfconfidence,

self identity, self awareness and self-efficacy amongst learners in ECDE centers.

However, Pre-school learners, in Musengo zone have manifested and continue to manifest

low intrapersonal skills, low interpersonal skills and poor leadership skills thus; this research

aimed at investigating the influence of child headed family formations on social emotional

development of learners in ECDE centers in Musengo zone, Kitui West Sub- County, Kitui

County. The study was guided by four objectives which included; to investigate roles and

responsibilities of children who head families; to examine the influence of child headed

family formations on the development of interpersonal relations; to establish the statistical

relationship between child- headed family formations and leadership skills and to establish

the influence of child headed family formations on the development of intrapersonal skills

among pre-school learners in Musengo zone. The study employed descriptive survey design

in that; it utilized both elements of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The study used

purposive sampling to select ECDE teachers, head teachers, parent reprentatives and ECDE

learners. The study used questionnaires to gather information from ECDE teachers, interview

guides to collect information from head teachers, parent representatives and observation

schedules for ECDE learners. Data collected was put in simple tables, and analyzed using the

statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study established that, there is a significant

relationship between roles and responsibilities of children heading families and their social

emotional development of pre-school leaners. It further established that, there is a significant

relationship between child headed family formations and development of interpersonal

relations among pre-school learners. The study found out that, there exists a relationship

between child headed families and leadership skills. Finally, it was established that, there is a

relationship between child headed family formations and development of intrapersonal skills.

The researcher recommends that, the government and all strategic partners should objectively

support the orphaned and vulnerable children and mentor them so that they develop

leadership skills, interpersonal skills and intrapersonal skills.