Rising Trends in Elementary Students' Tutoring: Starting Earlier Than Ever

In recent years, a notable increase in early enrollment in tutoring services for elementary students has surfaced. According to a survey by "Juku Sagashi no Madoguchi," more than 20% of parents report having arranged educational services for their children even before they started school. This shift is particularly pronounced in urban areas, where the competition for entry into junior high schools is particularly fierce.

Parents often find themselves grappling with the decision of when to begin tutoring for their children, and understanding the timing of educational service enrollment is crucial. The survey looked specifically at the timing of when parents began utilizing these services for their children, revealing that a significant number started as early as preschool or during the first grade.

Survey Overview

The survey gathered responses from 408 parents across the nation, including both mothers and fathers aged between 30 and 50. Conducted from November to December 2025, it utilized internet-based questionnaire methods to collect data about parents' choices regarding educational services for their children.

Key Findings

According to the survey, the most common time for starting educational services was as follows:

- Preschool: 21.2%
- First Grade (1st Semester): 16.1%
- Fifth Grade (1st Semester): 15.0%

Interestingly, there’s a clear trend towards beginning tutoring during the first semester of each academic year, with 13.9% of parents reporting they started in the first semester of the fourth grade, and 8.8% beginning in the first semester of the third grade. This indicates that parents often use the start of a new school year to tackle academic challenges with their children.

Types of Educational Services Utilized

For each academic level, the survey identified the top three types of educational services parents are opting for:

- Preschool: Tablet and correspondence courses (55.9%), Kumon and Gakken classrooms (36.2%), Group teaching in cram schools (27.6%)
- 1st Grade: Tablet and correspondence courses (45.5%), Kumon and Gakken classrooms (36.4%), Group teaching in cram schools (29.5%)
- 2nd Grade: Tablet and correspondence courses (62.5%), Kumon and Gakken classrooms (31.3%), Group teaching and individual tutoring (18.8%)
- 3rd Grade: Kumon and Gakken classrooms (50.0%), Small-scale private tutoring (29.2%), Individual tutoring (20.8%)
- 4th and 5th Grades: Group teaching becomes the dominant choice, indicating parents are more serious about preparing their children for competitive junior high examinations.

Parents expressed that tablet and correspondence courses are particularly favored in early education as they easily engage young learners. Comments revealed that convenience contributes significantly to the popularity of these services.

Middle and High School Entrance Exams Shift Decisions

One of the main reasons driving parents to initiate tutoring services early is the looming competition for junior high school entrance exams. The survey highlights various reasons based on future schooling conditions. For private and national junior high schools, an early start in educational services becomes important, with many indicating they began as early as preschool.

Conversely, families opting for public junior high schools reported beginning educational services in the first semester of fifth grade, showcasing a different approach to educational planning based on competitive dynamics.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the trend towards earlier intervention in children’s education through tutoring services appears to be cemented, particularly in metropolitan regions. Parents are increasingly focused on foundational skills, as evidenced by the motivation behind why they start these services. It’s clear that the choice of when and how to begin these educational services will have lasting implications on their children's academic trajectory. The keys to ensuring success lie in understanding each child's unique needs, monitoring their progress, and actively engaging with their educational journey.

For more information, parents can explore resources available at "Juku Sagashi no Madoguchi" to make informed choices about educational services that best fit their children’s needs.