#Japan #Tokyo #Child Development #Children's Day #Kodomon

Learning from Children: Insights from Kodomon's 2026 Study

On May 5th, coinciding with Children's Day in Japan, Kodomon Co., Ltd. has just released the findings from the 2026 survey titled 'The Power of Children'. This survey was conducted with 404 educators from various early childhood facilities like kindergartens, nursery schools, and childcare centers.

The survey highlights how educators perceive their learning experiences from children and emphasizes a critical point: the importance of an educator's mental well-being in unlocking children's inherent potential.

In recent discussions surrounding Children's Day, topics related to social issues such as declining birth rates, the costs of raising children, and the shortage of childcare workers often dominate. However, this day is meant to celebrate the unique strengths and abilities of children—strengths that adults frequently overlook.

The survey draws attention to the intrinsic power children possess and encourages a reflection on the relationship between educators’ mental space and children's growth.

Key Findings of the Study:

• - Over 90% of educators reported having learned valuable lessons from children over the past year.
• - The most admired ability in children is their creativity (39.6%), followed closely by their passion for what they love (33.7%) and their ability to enjoy the present moment (25.7%).
• - More than 80% of educators acknowledged that maintaining a mental space is crucial for enhancing children's abilities.

Educators Learning from Children

A noteworthy finding is that 91.3% of educators have experienced moments where they learned important lessons from the children they teach. This suggests that the relationship is not just one-way; indeed, it is a dynamic exchange where children also enlighten adults. This can be related to the concept of Reverse Mentoring in the business world, where younger employees provide insight to their seniors. Such reciprocal relationships are evidently present in childcare settings as well.

Educator Testimonials:

1. “Thank you for making it beautiful.” One educator noted the way children express gratitude towards nature, often wondering, “Why is this happening?” This attitude reflects a child’s pure curiosity that challenges adult norms of thinking.
2. “Purple apples taste like grapes.” After guiding children in an art project where they colored apples, one child declared their creation a “grape-flavored apple.” This moment made the educator realize their tendency to limit creativity through conventional thinking.

Characteristics to Emulate from Children

When asked what attributes educators wish to emulate from children, creativity topped the list (39.6%), shedding light on the pressures of adult life that cause many to lose this precious trait. Other desirable traits included:

• - The ability to lose oneself in their passions (33.7%).
• - Living fully in the moment (25.7%).
• - A sense of wonder towards small changes (25.0%).
• - An insatiable curiosity to question everything (23.5%).
• - Their courage to challenge themselves without fearing failure (21.5%).

The Importance of Mental Space for Educators

In a revealing inquiry about the necessity of mental space for educators to effectively nurture children's inherent abilities, 83.7% affirmed its significance. 45.1% indicated it is crucial, while 38.6% deemed it important. Notably, the survey illustrated that levels of mental space directly correlated with the quality of care provided by educators:

• - Among those who felt significantly more relaxed compared to a year ago, there was a notable increase in their ability to calmly support anxious students and respect their natural pace.

This survey comprehensively illustrates how children enrich the lives of adults through their innocent insights. Therefore, it is essential for educators to maintain their own emotional well-being to foster an environment conducive to children’s growth. Kodomon hopes this study inspires a deeper consideration of how we can support both children’s innate strengths and the environments that nurture them.

About Kodomon Co., Ltd.

Founded in November 2018, Kodomon is devoted to enhancing environments for children through technology. Specializing in ICT services for childcare and education facilities, Kodomon aims to streamline teachers' workloads and ensure that educational staff can spend quality time engaging with children. With a variety of offerings, including online training platforms and an extensive support program for educators, Kodomon envisions a community where children's development and learning are prioritized by society as a whole.

For more information, please visit Kodomon's official website.