Parenting perceptions: Comparing parents of typical and special needs preschoolers

Using the Parent Development Theory (PDT; B.A. Mowder, 2005) as the conceptual framework, this research explored parenting related to preschoolers' special needs status. Parents of special needs children rated general welfare and protection as well as sensitivity as the most important parenting characteristics during the preschool years. By comparison, parents of typically developing preschoolers deemed education the most important parent characteristic. Implications of this research are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 695–700, 2006.