육아지원기관 부모교육·참여 활성화 방안 연구

Abstract

The role of parents is rightly regarded as being extremely important. This is especially true in terms of their children’s early childhood development, since this is the critical period in which the “self” is developed. Therefore, a sense of coherence between parenting at home and care and education in child care facilities or kindergartens should be developed and maintained, which could help strengthen parents’ participation as well as parental education. Child care facilities and kindergartens should take a leading role as a place for such parental education since they are easily accessible to parents. This study sought to explore the multi-dimensional strategies for activating parental education and participation to child care facilities and kindergartens through a quantitative (surveys) and a quantitative research method (deep interviews). According to our research results, the degree of parents’ participation was appropriate in terms of their children’s open class and at meetings with teachers; however, they do not participate actively in parental education programs and meetings of steering committee of the sites. Parents, however, showed both a strong desire and need for parental education even though they do not have enough time for active participation. In conclusion, we suggested that child-care facilities and kindergartens provide parents with more Saturday programs appropriate for family participation, centered around the notion of “Learning through Participation”. On another level, organized programs and well-prepared parenting classes should be provided by Childcare Information Centers or Early Childhood Education Centers in communities. In addition, we recommend that the central government consider the establishment of institutions aimed at activating greater parental involvement in education. One possible means of encouraging their participation would be via some system of social credits.