The effect of family on the development of problem solving abilities of children

SUMMARY In this research, effect of socio-economic and educational level of family is investigated in the improvement of problem solving abilities of students in primary school 4th and 5th grade. Evaluating the effect of family, a questionnaire is applied related with attitudes that provide students to get problem solving ability and habits showed by family members. If there is difference between attitudes developed according to parent education, number of children in the family, income of the family, ages of parent and job of the father are investigated. The research is made in two primary schools which are in different places in Sakarya. The questionnaire is applied to 107 persons guardions of 4th and 5th grade students in these schools. In this questionnaire there are 44 questions related with attitudes and approaches improved by families for their children. The aim of the research is to determine that at what measure social and economic features and educational level of family are effective in the improvement of problem solving abilities os students in primary school 4th and 5th grades. By means of the results obtained from the research, for the aim of teaching family, which is a very important institution for children to gain pasitive behaviour and habits, new applications and activities can be made. Attitudes of family members especially that of parent to their children may be evaluated. According to results of the research, educational level of mothers and their ages, educational level of fathers and their ages, income of the family and number of children in the family are highly effective to gaining skills and habits provide the improvement of students problem solving abilities. The job of father is evaluated as it is less effective. By evaluating the results it should be noted that this research is made on only family and there are another factors like teacher and school have effects on the improvements of students abilities. xn