It is a fact that modern way of life demands time when a person can retreat from repetitive everyday exertion. Free time is an important part of family life for parents and their preschool children. It is important because it enables a high quality of primary socialization, genuine relations between the parents and their children, a two-way communication, various interactions and socializing (Kristančič, 2007). Leisure offers the option of linking family members to each other (Tepavčević, 2003).The majority of people spend their most active personal development within their families. Many personality features are founded during the first few years (Tomori, 1994). The family is irreplaceable and indispensable. Moreover, Musek (1995) says that the results of the research all over the world (Pike and Radin, 1991, in Čampa, 2013) and the American research on disorders of feeding (1994, in Čampa, 2013) and in our country (Poljšak-Škraban, Žorga and Dekleva, 2004; Erzar and Torkar, 2007), clearlyshow that troublesome family relations are a common denominator of the most problematic negative elements of the modern society such as psychological problems, neuroticism, school failure, violence, aggressiveness, crime, all sorts of addictions from alcohol to drugs, even suicidal attempts. Children undergo primary socialization within their families. They build confidence towards the important others and the world which they perceive through them (Moore, Sixsmith and Knowles, 1996). Also, within the family the children develop their autonomy, initiative, diligence and identity. For a healthy development of a child’s personality the accordance of both parents is very important. What is also important is their mutual support in the upbringing matters and ensuring the feeling of safety since the children are dependent on their parents and the acceptance of their gender identity (Kržišnik, 2010). However, public opinion surveys on the quality of life around the world and in Slovenia (Silver, 1994; Abrahamson, 1995; Room, 1999, in Mandič, 2005), show that people lack time for their private life (Kanjuo Mrčela and Černigoj Sadar, 2006). The purpose of the master's degree thesis is to research various theoretical definitions and the elements that affect actively and efficiently spent free time. Furthermore, I emphasize the great importance of stimulating active free time of the parents with their preschool children as the basis of a child’s personal growth. I also want to point out the negative influence of the environment and the consumer society on spending free time.
In empirical work part I, with the help of quantitative research, explored the views of parents of pre-school children on the importance of joint leisure time in the villages and in the city. I found out which activities children and parents do together and how much time they spend together. I explored the factors that prevent the active and quality leisure time of children with their parents.
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