Participation of Fathers in Chilean Private Kindergartens: Perceived Conditions of Possibilities Participación de padres varones en jardines infantiles privados chilenos: condiciones de posibilidad percibidas

Abstract

There is scholarly consensus that the involvement of fathers in preschool education optimizes child-adolescent development. However, in practice, fathers’ participation is low compared to that of mothers. This article presents the results of a qualitative study aimed to exploring the perceptions of fathers with children who attend private educational centers in Chile about the conditions that encourage or discourage them from participating in their children’s activities at school. Semi structured interviews were held with fathers of children who attend 8 preschools. The article reveals positive attitudes toward participation which are hindered by cultural, structural, and institutional factors. Conditions of possibility become privatized and come to depend on the ability to reach agreements among parental figures. This study contributes to the scientific understanding of the conditions affecting the participation of fathers in early education. The implications of these findings for parental involvement policies and the work of educational institutions are discussed.