Original Research

Problematising child-headed households:The need for children’s participation in early childhood interventions

Jace Pillay
South African Journal of Childhood Education | Vol 6, No 1 | a359 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajce.v6i1.359 | © 2016 Jace Pillay | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 16 September 2015 | Published: 30 June 2016

About the author(s)

Jace Pillay, Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

There is insufficient literature and research that has problematised the use of the phenomenon of child-headed households (CHHs), that is, to find out if it is an acceptable term to use, if it is really a problem, and whether it needs solutions. Hence, the purpose of this study was to problematise the use of the term CHH, taking the theories of Freire and Foucault into consideration. This generic qualitative study consisted of a sample of 16 experts who worked with children from CHH. Data were collected through a questionnaire and individual telephonic interviews with the experts identified. The findings indicate that, for several reasons, the current use of the term CHH is acceptable and is a problem that has to be taken seriously by the relevant stakeholders. In light of the findings, the author emphasises the importance of recognising the capacity of children from CHH to actively participate in early childhood interventions geared to improve their social environments.

Keywords: child; child-headed; early childhood interventions; households; problematize; rights; social justice; vulnerable children


Keywords

child; child-headed; early childhood interventions; households; problematize; rights; social justice; vulnerable children

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