조부모의 영유아기 손자녀 양육에 대한 유아교육전공자의 인식과 조율 경험

초록

This study aims to explore in depth the experiences and meanings of co-parenting, as well as patterns of coordination and coping, from the perspectives of parents who majored in early childhood education and had experience co-parenting their young children with grandparents. Using a multiple-case study design, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with seven parents who were raising young children and had engaged in co-parenting with grandparents for at least six months. The findings revealed that grandparental caregiving was experienced as a stabilizing resource that alleviated physical burdens through childcare and household assistance, provided emotional stability, and offered opportunities for parental reflection and mutual learning. At the same time, intergenerational tensions and conflicts emerged regarding health and safety, media exposure, daily routines, and differences in values. To address these challenges, the participants drew on their professional knowledge and practical experience to maintain relationships and coordinate caregiving by expressing gratitude and recognition, supporting grandparents’ caregiving self-efficacy through documentation and information sharing, and adjusting roles and caregiving environments to foster collaborative relationships. These findings suggest that co-parenting with grandparents should be understood not merely as supplementary childcare but as a relationshipbased, collaborative parenting process. Furthermore, this study provides practical implications for the development of educational initiatives and support programs for grandparents involved in childcare.

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