Adaptive Child Rearing Practices Among Parents of Children With Autism at the Pre-Operational Developmental Stage in Lusaka, Zambia

Child-rearing practices are critical in supporting the development and daily functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder. Existing literature often categorises parenting into fixed styles, including authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, helicopter and lawn mower parenting. However, these categories may not capture how parents adapt practices to changing developmental and behavioural needs. The study was conducted at Bauleni Special School in Lusaka, Zambia. This study explored child-rearing practices among parents of children with autism at the preoperational stage, focusing on t