Exploring the current status of parental education for fathers and improvement plans in Childcare Support Center

Objectives This study investigated the operational status of parental education for fathers in the Childcare Support Center and explored the improvement of father education based on this. Methods Total 374 times data of parental education for fathers operated from 2018 to 2021 at the Childcare Support Center located in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam were collected, and analyzed. And In-depth interviews were conducted to derive an improvement plan. Results First, the father’s education at the center increased continuously for 4 years, but the education for fathers was not actively operated as it was conducted about 5.20 times annual average per center. Second, the education method by fathers and children was operated 1.6 times more than for fathers alone, and one-time education accounted for 65.8% of the total education. Third, father's education was operated the most in the morning on the weekend, and the group size consisted of small groups by 1-10 people and 11-20 people. Fourth, the contents of father's education, 64.1% of experiential activities with fathers and children took place, and the education related to parenting information gradually decreased. Fifth, the improvement plan for father's education is to be operated continuously with the consist of multiple programs in order to increase the participation rate of fathers, and appeared as customized education according to the situation of the child and father, comprehensive approach combining parenting information education and experiential type, an education plan through feedback. Conclusions Through this study, it was possible to check the current status of parental education for fathers at the Childcare Support Center, and explore improvements, and increase father’s participation by planning father education taking this into consideration, and will be able to enhance the effectiveness of education.