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Mamatoto

Part of
Design Future

Design for the Single Parents in China

MA 22/23
Keywords
Parenthood, Single parents, Early Childhood Education, Equality, Social Impact, Future,
Overview

Our experiences exchange platform is based on children's picture books to help single parents in China who want to explain the differences in their family structure to their children, who are around 3 years old by offering experiences from individuals who have gone through similar situations, relieving them from a lack of guidance and enabling them to record and share their valuable experiences, helping them feel understood and boosting their confidence.

Collaboration
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Context

During early childhood, a child's health, language development, and social attitudes begin to take shape. Social attitudes are much like our thoughts and feelings about certain things. However, Chinese single-parent families often lack effective support in early education due to their unique circumstances. 

Definition of Single-Parent Families

The single-parent families addressed in this project are parents who are caring for their child alone for the first time, and the child's social attitudes have not fully developed.

Current Situation of Single-Parent Families

Single-parent families have long been overlooked in China, and their characteristics include feelings of shame, invisibility, and being dispersed in the public eye. 

Research & Insight

“My child often points to the male character in the children's picture book and says that this is Grandpa. This left me in a state of confusion and disorientation.”

——Jane - A mother with a 3 years old boy


“I don't allow my children to discuss our family situation with their friends. This is because I fear that my kids will get bullied at school.”

——Alisa - A single mum of 5-year-old twins


“One day I would be overwhelmed when I heard my child singing a children's song with lyrics like Daddy and Mummy love me or something...”

——Kristin - A mother with a 4 years old boy


“I often receive negative comments online, someone said, “such a selfish woman, such an unfortunate child grows in an incomplete family.”

——Alisa - A single mum of 5-year-old twins

Problem Statment

Problem statements

If single parents are unable to disclose the differences in their family structure to their children before they inquire, it may potentially cause emotional trauma for the children.


Hypothesis

If we provide single parents with experiences from individuals who have gone through similar situations and create a communication channel for them, it will relief their confusion and uncertainty, leading to increased confidence and ease.


HWM

How might we assist single parents who are unsure of how and when to explain their unique family structure to their children by providing them with experiences and assistance from individuals, so that parents can confidently establish positive and meaningful relationships with their children?


Theory of Change

We believe that this will assist single parents in explaining the differences in their family structure to their children with more confidence and composure. Furthermore, it will establish connections between single-parent families and nuclear families, ultimately helping to reduce social biases and misunderstandings.

Concept

Our experience exchange platform is based on Children’s picture books.

  • Parents tell stories with the assistance of children’s picture books to help children understand the world.
  • Picture books are like a frame, the story created by parents.
  • Each children's picture book has a specific theme, single parents can combine books to cater to their needs, which enable parents to build meaningful relationship with children

Test & Impact

We did the user test with 4 single parents & 6 parents of nuclear families.

We want to figure out 3 questions during the test,

  • Whether the recorded experience helps parents(especially single parents ) educate their kids in early childhood?
  • Whether parents (especially single parents ) are willing to upload their own stories?
  • Whether our service boosts single parents’ self-confidence?

All these questions get positive answers

SPECIAL
THANKS

Firstly, many thanks to our tutor, Dr Nicolas Rebolledo, for his patient and professional guidance. Additionally, we would also like to extend our appreciation to Mr David for his eagerness to help.


We would also like to thank Ms. Shi and Fenwick's research team from the Department of Sociology at Chongqing Technology and Business University for providing the research data on the sociology of single family in China.


Lastly, We would also like to thank our family and friends who supported us throughout the journey of working on this project.

Team

Jun Wu

wakemydream11@gmail.com

Portfolio

Approved

Zhaoyu Wang

10024741@network.rca.ac.uk

Portfolio

Approved

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