Abstract:

A family is not just a group of individuals but it is distinguished by the complexity of family members' mutual relationships. The family, as a primary group based on different relationships and functions, performs, firstly a generational, cultural, historical and religious transfer (Mijatović, 1995). Its members know each other well and they are relatively tightly connected with the feeling of togetherness and solidarity, and satisfy within the family their basic needs for security, belonging, support and the sense of self-worthiness. The family generationally transfers to its members the standards of behavior and establishes a system of value enabling the basic physical, social and psychic conditions for adjustment. Taking into consideration the development age of the child or adolescent, the development tasks of the family change making the role of the parent changeable. Caring for a child refers to an appropriate diet, health care, upbringing, social and emotional support and encouraging education, and, to be more exact, refers to the entire care for the child's well-being. The parents' interest in developing potentials does not refer solely to being directed towards the school success of children and adolescents but also to being interested in development in general. They should show interest in leisure time space where intellectual potentials and interests can develop through games, hobbies, out of school activities, visits to cultural institutions (libraries, theaters, museums) joint selection and watching of quality television programs, and conversations on seen and experienced. Clark (1990) indicates how pupils who are included in different activities and out of school forms of studying and who are encouraged by their parents, show a high school success. The work shows the research results performed on examples of 970 elementary school pupils in the region of two Croatian counties and refers to the support parents offer to pupils engaged in organized activities in their leisure time.

Keywords:

Parents, pupils, organized activities in leisure time, support.