초등자녀 양육지원 방안

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the support policy for parents and children at the time of elementary school entrance. For this purpose, we examined the developmental characteristics of children and changes in family life and examined foreign policies on transition and child care at the time of elementary school. In-depth interviews were conducted with parents and children to investigate their perceptions on elementary school entrance. In addition, Korean Children Panel Data were analyzed to identify difference between before and after elementary school entrance in family life and relationship between mother employment and adaptation of children to elementary school.

Current public child care service in elementary school are Care Class in elementary school, After-School program, Public In-home Child-care Services, Community Children Center and Care Class provided by local government. These public child care service provide from different branches of the government. Also, education program for preliminary school parents are provided by kindergarten, elementary school and local parent center. In addition to parental leave and reduction of working hours for periods of child care are implemented for working parents.

Most OECD country provide out of school hour care service for children aged 6 to 11 and around 30% of children participate in center-based before and/or after school care service. Out of school hour care service in France, Germany, US and Japan are provided by joint between school and local government. Advanced countries such as France and United Kingdom have made various efforts, offering preliminary class and making transfer program, to improve quality of transfer to elementary school up preliminary class.

The critical change due to elementary school entrance in family life is that hours of after school care increase from 0.85 to 2.51. And, according to the analysis of Korean Children Panel Data, children’s elementary school entrance decrease their mother’s pay, working time and opportunity to be employed regular job. Parents of elementary school children recognized that they need information related to entrance and life in elementary school, and need to increase the number of care class. Children referred to difficulty of adaptation to school attributed to rigid rules in contrast to kindergarten, and become tired due to long care class without parents.

Based on results of present study, we suggest the following. The ultimate goal of support system for or parents of elementary school children should focus on happy heathy development of children. Support system should be established to improve parenting and quality of parent-child relationship. Systems and programs to improve quality of continuity between early childhood and elementary educations should be developed. Reduction of working hours for periods of child care should be encouraged in working parents group, and also, its related law should be revamped. Expanding provision of care class in elementary school should be considered through joint efforts between local government and elementary school.