This study examined cultural differences in the amount and type of maternal scaffolding of
children's learning and their effects on children's independent performance across two
distinct activities: goal-oriented vs. free play. Twenty Iranian immigrant and 20 Anglo-
American mothers with their preschool children participated in this study. Analyses of
maternal scaffolding revealed that Iranian immigrant mothers were more directive in their
teaching strategies than Anglo-American mothers in the goal-oriented activity. These …

Authors in this study examined cultural differences in the amount and type of maternal
scaffolding of children's learning, and their effects on children's independent performance
across two distinct activities: goal-oriented vs. free play. Participants included 20 Iranian
immigrant mothers and 20 Anglo American mothers. Both groups included their preschool
children. The goal-oriented activity involved two sets of materials: pattern blocks and three-
dimensional blocks. For the free play activity, mothers and their children were provided with …