2013 Volume 9 Pages 78-87
This paper clarifies the role of those NPOs that primarily consist of suburban women in their management of childcare support facilities. This study involved a questionnaire survey of users of the childcare support services and an interview survey of a female NPO manager in a metropolitan suburb. The manager started the NPO’s activities based on a mothering group and now participates in managing childcare-support services. The local government covers the administrative costs, and the local developer provides them with a space where their activities can be conducted. The NPO plays two roles in suburban childcare support: First, they provide a space for peer support and networking in the neighbourhood for users, who consist of non-working mothers and working mothers. These mothers appreciate the services provided and desire additional childcare support facilities providing similar services. Second, they supply flexible childcare, such as short-term childcare available after public day care centres close. This service consists partly of ‘patchwork childcare’ from working mothers in the suburb, in which working mothers use various childcare resources, grandparents and other services, in spite of the lack of regular public day care centers.
