Article
Mothering and Educational Involvement During COVID-19: South Korean Mothers’ Lived Experiences with Their 4th Graders
| e-ISSN | 2982-6845 |
| p-ISSN | 1226-4474 |
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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.