A Study on the Process of Understanding Children’s Needs at a “Kodomo-Shokudo”

Abstract

This study attempted to clarify the process in which support staff of a local “kodomo-shokudo” come to understand the individual needs of utilizing children. (A “kodomo-shokudo” is a soup kitchen for children of low-income families that provides nutritious meals, either free of charge or for a small fee.) Qualitative analysis was conducted by way of Sato’s (2008) method on data obtained from participant observation. Ninety-five episodes were extracted through observing 17 children, from which 20 codes and 13 categories were derived. The results identified a 14 phase needs recognition process: ① being alone/ hanging out, ② taking an interest, ③ acting with interest, ④ responding, ⑤ testing limits, ⑥ accepting, ⑦ feeling at ease, ⑧ seeking approval, ⑨ approving, ⑩ placing trust, ⑪ empathizing, ⑫ addressing, ⑬ expressing living conditions, and ⑭ understanding. A focus on the child-staff relationship leading to a child disclosing his/her living conditions identified a three-stage process by which the relationship developed: ① hierarchical relationship, ② reversed hierarchical relationship, and ③ an equal relationship. In this study, it was found that there are 14 phases by which staff come to understand the needs of children utilizing “kodomo-shokudo,” and that in this process the child-staff relationship changes significantly.