兒童少年做為家庭照顧者雖不是一個新的社會現象，但這些孩子的照顧經驗與不利處境卻長期被忽略，在台灣，相關的實證資料亦相當稀少。本文從初步探索的立場出發，以質化研究的方式深入了解兒童少年家庭照顧者的真實生活樣貌，期待專業服務者及政策制定者能敏察並認知到這群隱性案主，使得負擔家庭照顧責任的孩子能得到應有的支持。本研究的結果發現，當兒童少年被賦予照顧某位家人的責任時，他們需同時承擔許多角色任務，有些任務與照顧直接相關，如：提供家庭成員身心上的照料；有些任務則是因家庭中的照顧需求而衍生出來的，如：擔負家庭勞務、維持家庭的日常運作、因應家庭經濟上的困難。這些任務並非全都是兒童少年的發展階段能夠掌握或適合參與的，因此本研究的結果也顯示，在照顧過程中，孩子的課業及學校參與被犧牲，孩子的身心健康受到傷害或處於危機，核子也欠缺發展或維繫友伴關係的機會。針對兒童少年家庭照顧者所面臨的種種不利處境與限制，本研究提出相關之思索與建議，分別為「賦予兒童少年家庭照顧者特定的福利身份類別」、「發展適切的評估與處遇，讓孩子安心求助」、以及「學校應扮演積極角色」，期待給予這些孩子適時的協助。

The undertaking of family care responsibilities by children and young people is not a recent social phenomenon. However, the roles performed by these individuals as well as the negative impacts of these roles on them have not been well recognized. The situation of young carers in Taiwan is also poorly understood. In this preliminary study, the qualitative method and in-depth interviews are adopted to examine the everyday experiences and practices of children and young people involved in family care provision in Taiwan. By providing a deeper investigation of the lives of young caring, this research enhances the understanding of the nature of young caring. The empirical findings reveal that young carers carry out a variety of tasks in and around the home, ranging from intimate and personal care responsibilities to domestic chores and financial support. Many of these tasks distinguish the young carers from other children and young people who do not take on caring roles within the family. The research particularly identifies the ways in which the caring roles affect the lives and development of the young carers. The burden of caring can severely impede the educational performance of the children and young people. It also has an adverse effect on the young carers' physical and mental wellbeing. In addition, the young carers experience difficulties in establishing friendships. To respond to the impacts of care activities on children and young people, this research concludes by proposing recommendations for further enhancing current services in order to support young carers.