On-site childcare is an ever-increasing form of childcare. By understanding the decisions, experiences and feelings of mothers using on-site centers, informed policy decisions about viable childcare models can be made. In the broadest terms current literature reveals that economic, societal, functional, and psychological factors influence a mother's decisions in regards to using childcare. This study used these markers as the basis for the development of questions to ascertain the experiences, feelings and decisions of mothers using on-site childcare. A phenomenological method was used. Twenty-four participants using on-site childcare from four organizations in different industries were located through a snowball sample for in-depth interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded to derive themes of experiences. The findings reveal that on-site childcare impacts previously described effects of childcare. The factors of primary influence are child proximity and organizational support. The influence of close proximity can be seen in the themes of Networking, Organizational System Oneness, Family/Community Perception, Mothering Style, Center Quality, Work Time, Commuting Time, Nursing/Lactation, Guilt, Stress Management, and Employee Loyalty. Organizational assistance and support impact and overlap with proximity as a primary theme source. This can be seen in the themes of Cost, Networking, Organizational System Oneness, Waiting List, Center Quality, Work Time, Commuting Time, Nursing/Lactation, Stress Management and Employee Loyalty. The quality of the childcare, which in large part is made possible by the supporting organization, is held in such high regard that in some cases it overcomes the mother's desire for proximity. The implications of these findings are that high quality on-site childcare provides a significant benefit for mothers, organizations and communities. Family friendly organizational policy and feminist urban planning methods are better informed.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Preshool children from historically disadvantaged communities are often not stimulated or supported in their early childhood development. Therefore these children are often not school ready for formal education. In previous studies it is reported that the mother has an important role to play in the preschool development of her child. In a community where parents are struggling to survive, the question is if those parents are in a position to support their children. The purpose of this study is to ascertain how the preschool child perceives his social support systems. In a qualitative research design five year old children from a disadvantaged community on the West Coast took part in the study. Out of the study it appears that the preschool child visualizes one of their parents and in some cases a grandparent as their most important support system. The facts however are that the parents in this community due to a shortage of time, education and knowledge of how to stimulate their children, do not playa supporting role in their early childhood development. To support preschool children in this situation the parents as well as any other people involved should be made aware of their responsibilities in this regard. They should be equipped with the knowledge and competencies to enable them to support their preschool children. It is important that intervention strategies are directed not only at the parents but to all in whom the preschool children place their trust / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kleuters uit histories benadeelde gemeenskappe word dikwels nie genoeg in hul vroeë kinderontwikkeling gestimuleer en ondersteun nie. Dit het tot gevolg dat hierdie kinders nie gereed is vir die formele onderrigsituasie wanneer hulle moet skool toe gaan nie. Uit die literatuur het geblyk dat die ouer, veral die moeder 'n groot verantwoordelikheid het ten opsigte van haar kind se voorskoolse ontwikkeling. In 'n gemeenskap waar ouers in 'n stryd om oorlewing gewikkel is, ontstaan die vraag egter of die ouers in staat is om 'n ondersteuningsrol te vervul. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om vas te stel hoe die kleuter sy sosiale ondersteuningsisteme ervaar. In 'n kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp het vyfjarige kleuters uit 'n histories benadeelde gemeenskap aan die Weskus aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Uit die ondersoek het geblyk dat die kleuters een van hulouers of in enkele gevalle 'n ouma as hul vernaamste ondersteuningsisteem visualiseer. Die feit is egter dat die ouers uit hierdie gemeenskap weens 'n tekort aan tyd, opvoeding en die kennis om hul kleuters te stimuleer nie werklik 'n ondersteuningsrol speel in hul kleuters se vroeë kinderontwikkeling nie. Om kleuters in hierdie situasie te ondersteun moet hulouers, maar ook enige ander persone wat betrokke is by die kleuter se ontwikkeling, bewus gemaak word van hul verantwoordelikheid en ook toegerus word met die kennis en vaardighede om dit te kan doen. Dit is belangrik dat intervensiestrategieë nie net op die ouer sal fokus nie, maar op alle ander persone in wie die kleuter vertroue het.

The present study explored the interaction between paediatric asthma and family functioning, within the context of family systems theory. Eight families, each with an asthmatic child between the ages of 8 and 15, were included in this study. In each case, the parents were interviewed and completed a quantitative measure, the Family Assessment Device, The results indicated that each family has a unique way of functioning and of integrating the child's asthma into its lifestyle. Factors found to be involved in the mutual impact of paediatric asthma and family functioning were the size of the family, the severity of the child's condition, the ways in which the family copes with the stress of asthma, communication patterns between parents, compliance with family rules and boundaries, and the affective responsiveness and involvement of family members. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The present study explored the interaction between paediatric asthma and family functioning, within the context of family systems theory. Eight families, each with an asthmatic child between the ages of 8 and 15, were included in this study. In each case, the parents were interviewed and completed a quantitative measure, the Family Assessment Device, The results indicated that each family has a unique way of functioning and of integrating the child's asthma into its lifestyle. Factors found to be involved in the mutual impact of paediatric asthma and family functioning were the size of the family, the severity of the child's condition, the ways in which the family copes with the stress of asthma, communication patterns between parents, compliance with family rules and boundaries, and the affective responsiveness and involvement of family members. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)