The Impact of Child Upbringing by Househelps in Zimmerman Estate Narirobi County , Kenya

Abstract

study focused on the assessment of parenting responsibility relayed to househelps by parents and effects caused on a growing child among households that reside in Zimmerman estate in Nairobi City County. Parents experience a high level of work-family crisis that makes them resort to employing househelp to stay on with the child and take care of his/her general needs. The aspect of parent-child emotional detachment formed the basis for the problem of which the research addressed by assessing the place of the househelp in child rearing to either optimal or pathological development. A qualitative research design was adopted and random sampling utilized as both qualitative and quantitative data analysis (the former was suitably utilized as the later was employed in diminutive extent) was used to evaluate the research data. The targeted population for the study included parents, househelps and House Girls Bureau staff. The tools for data collection comprised structured interview questions (which at some juncture necessitated use of voice recording device), direct observation and questionnaires through engaging participants in a flexible interaction to gain rich information. Data analysis was done using labels, and charts. The findings of the study were as follows: Firstly, parental inactive involvement in child rearing due to occupational commitments led to parental irresponsiveness and poor socialization; Secondly, the househelp’s participation in child rearing became inevitably the alternative way of parenting the child to either optimal or pathological development. Thirdly, parental absence hit hard on a growing child who, along childhood stage, missed imperative parental emotional support and values. The study recommended that parents adopt a work and family balance initiative as the best way to maintain touch with the child for at least few hours during the day.