‘직장어린이집’ 경험에 대한 의미 탐구: 한 직장어린이집에서 자녀의 0-5세 연속 보육 경험한 학부모를 중심으로 = Exploring the meaning of parents' experiences in a workplace childcare center: Focusing on Parents who experienced continuous childcare for their children aged 0-5 at a Workplace Childcare Center

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study is to examine the meaning of parents' experiences in entrusting the care of their children, aged 0-5, to a workplace childcare center. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 parents whose children were cared for in a workplace childcare center from birth to age five. The meanings of their experiences were found to be as follows. First, parents were concerned about their children feeling their absence, but experienced a sense of stability as the homeroom teacher, who remained with the child from age 0 to 5, became like a second parent. Second, parents' childcare needs were met through the workplace childcare center, which could accommodate predictable working hours and provide care even in unexpected work situations. Third, the excellent childcare environment provided access to various support options for their children. For dual-income parents who were both working, direct care giving was not possible, making environmental support critically necessary. The workplace childcare center's location near their workplace offered convenience for drop-off and pickup, and the facility's ability to provide care for all preschool ages, along with its understanding of and adaptability to parents' working hours, were significant benefits. This study is expected to broaden the understanding of workplace childcare centers at a time when creating a balance between work and family life is a societal imperative.