Caring for children during COVID-19 : the experiences of South African families with children in middle childhood

Abstract

ABSTRACT Caring for children during COVID-19: The experiences of South African families with children in middle childhood RESEARCHER: Chandré Burger SUPERVISOR: Dr. J Chiba DEGREE: MSW (Play-based intervention) INSTITUTION: University of Pretoria

The effect of COVID-19 on the care of children in middle childhood is an under-researched phenomenon in South Africa. Family plays a vital role in the care and development of children. Due to the heavy restrictions during COVID-19, which included caregivers having to work from home, schools being closed, restricted movement of people and social distancing, families and children’s lives were changed. COVID-19 affected families and children’s wellbeing, thus the need to understand how caring for children in middle childhood during this time is of great importance. Exploring the experiences of families in South Africa, caring for children in middle childhood during the COVID-19 pandemic may assist the researcher in making area-specific recommendations for service delivery based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory as well as the Family Systems theory.

The goal of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of South African families caring for children in middle childhood, during the COVID-19 pandemic. An interpretivist qualitative research approach was used for an in-depth understanding of the holistic lived experiences of these families during the pandemic. An instrumental case study research design was used, as the researcher attempted to understand each case/family holistically, in order to explore the experiences of six families in South Africa, Gauteng. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from the participants, who have utilised the services of Kungwini Welfare Organisation, in Pretoria. An interview schedule assisted in guiding the interview.

The study indicated that families caring for children in middle childhood, during the pandemic, had common positive and negative experiences. These families made use of specific resources during the pandemic and developed certain coping mechanisms that mitigated the effect of the pandemic on their family system. Reference is made to the developmental milestones of children in middle childhood as noted and understood by their caregivers. Caregivers were aware of the need to maintain their children’s developmental milestones and thus provided opportunities for this at home during the pandemic. The study indicated that not all experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic were solely negative. According to the research results, the experiences of the family systems in South Africa, vary wildly based on the availability of resources and support systems.

It is recommended that services and social policy frameworks guiding services, be implemented for the inclusion of and quality service delivery to families with children in middle childhood, with specific focus on a pandemic. Furthermore, the training of social workers needs to be continuously refined to suit the needs of families with children in middle childhood specifically, the inclusion of the systems involved with families.

Key Concepts: Care of a child Children in middle childhood COVID-19 Families Pandemic Caregiving