Nearly half of Japanese Fathers Short of Time with Kids

About 40 percent of Japanese fathers have problems securing time with their children, according to the FY2004-FY2005 International Comparative Research on Home Education released on August 1, 2006, by the National Women's Education Center, Japan.

The survey aimed to ascertain the current status of parents and children, including their daily lives, discipline and expectation of children, parents' work-life balance and child-rearing support. The center surveyed 1,000 parents or equivalent adults who lived with and were raising children aged 12 years or below in each of six countries: Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the United States, France and Sweden. It released the results after comparing them to a similar study in 1994.

According to the results, the average Japanese father spent 3.1 hours with children on a weekday compared to 3.3 hours in the study of 1994. About 40 percent of fathers were concerned about the short time spent with children. The research revealed that child discipline by Japanese parents and child independence were at low levels.

With regard to answers on needed improvements for child-rearing, playgrounds topped the lists of Japanese, Korean, American and French parents alike. Second among Japanese respondents was financial support, which showed a drastic increase to 49 percent of respondents from 31 percent in 1994. The results also showed that Japanese and Korean people generally have little experience taking care of children before becoming parents, and tend to rely on tips about child rearing provided by books and television. The biggest concern about child rearing in Japan was safety, followed by sufficient time to spend with children and education expenses.

http://www.nwec.jp/English/

Posted: 2006/12/18 06:50:52 AM
Japanese version