Mothering and Educational Involvement During COVID-19: South Korean Mothers’ Lived Experiences with Their 4th Graders
AUTHOR : 김영선, 이재림, 최정아
INFORMATION : page. 139~165 / 2021 Vol.28 No.3
ABSTRACT
In this study, we explored the lived experiences of South Korean mothers who cared for their 4th graders and were involved in their children’s education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, we conducted in-depth interviews with 15 mothers whose first child was in 4th grade. Our thematic analysis identified two overarching categories. The first category, childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, included three themes: (a) 24-hour home care, (b) the reconstruction of everyday routines, and (c) preparing three meals a day and caring for children’s health. The second category, parental involvement in children’s education during the COVID-19 pandemic, had three themes: (a) unprepared for virtual schooling in a country with a strong IT infrastucture, (b) a key to success and failure in virtual schooling, and (c) a new roles of parents during the pandemic and a reconstructed meaning of schooling. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the results of this study show the challenges that the mothers experienced and the insights that the mothers gained as they cared for their children in elementary school.