The present study investigated the educational practices and parenting styles prevalent in
mothers of low-income children and the relationship of these practices with the empathy of
children. The research included the participation of 36 children, 9-11 years old, and their
mothers. It was used as instruments the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Parental
Styles Inventory and the Scale of Empathy for Children and Adolescents. The results
indicate that scores of children's responses, regarding childrearing practices, were
significantly lower than the scores of mothers, with a prevalence of negative practices in
both perspectives. The parenting style is the predominant risk and below-average regular.
It is found that higher levels of education of the children are related to higher levels of
empathy. There is no correlation between maternal educational practices and levels of
empathy. This study raised important information regarding childrearing practices, as the
prevalence of negative practices in the surveyed mothers. The detection of this deficit
raises the need for more comprehensive research on educational practices in low-income
mothers, and the development of guidance and intervention programs that help mothers
and fathers in the education provided to children.
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