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

Abstract

Abstract The COVID-19 disaster that began at the end of 20129, changed the way people all over the world functioned for a period of time. Families faced difficulties such as death of loved ones, financial difficulties and loss of income, mental health problems, hunger, loneliness and isolation. One of the important concerns was around families with children in terms of how they would cope and adjust to the demands of the crisis. This led the researcher to the consider the question “What were the experiences of South African families of caring for children in middle childhood during COVID-19?”

The goal of this study was to explore, describe and understand the experience of South African families of caring for children in middle childhood during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher wanted to know if their experience was positive or negative for these families. The researcher also wanted to explore and describe the influence of COVID-19 on the developmental milestones of children within middle childhood functioning and development.

The researcher used a qualitative research approach and purposively selected six parents or caregivers who had taken care of children in middle childhood during the COVID-19 pandemic, to participate in the study. All of the participants lived in the same city in Gauteng South Africa, and they were interviewed face-to-face using a semi structured interview schedule. The transcriptions of the interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis thematically analyses. The study received ethical clearance from the University of Pretoria Humanities ethics Committee, and adhered to considerations such as written informed consent, confidentiality, reflexivity and positionality, non-maleficence or deception, and a decolonial ethical approach.

Key findings for this study were that all these families had great difficulties to overcome, very little support was provided, most participants were very lonely and experienced great levels of stress regarding their children’s schooling and development. But it was also found that that families became aware of their strengths and found that they were resilient. They found that relationships became stronger, and more purposeful.

It is recommended by the researcher that similar studies are needed, in different age groups. To compare what the experiences was families with children in different age groups. As a country, better disaster management should be followed in terms of providing in basic needs.

As a social work system, support for families in the system can be provided in terms of providing knowledge and education on topics that is of concern.

Key words: Social Work; middle childhood; families; caring; COVID-19