世論 What Japan Thinks

goo Research recently published the results of a survey conducted amongst a slightly different population from usual, that of elementary school children, on the subject of what they do after school. The fieldwork was conducted over two weeks from the 24th of October to the 7th of November last year, with respondents gathered via a public web-based survey from users of the primary school children-targeted portal site kids goo. There is no mention of parental involvement in the data collection. I presented another survey last year on a similar topic, but that time it was the parents interviewed regarding their children and their extra-curricular lessons.

Demographics

1,500 children completed the survey successfully. 60.1% were girls, 2.9% were in the first year of elementary school (age 6 or 7), 5.5% in second year, 13.7% in third year, 22.9% in forth year, 27.7% in fifth year, and 27.4% in sixth year.

The most surprising thing to me is probably Q2, with not more than 3% met at the school gates by their parents. This to me is a great figure, as it indicates the relative low level of parental paranoia in the country, and of course the lack of cars associated with the school run is good for the environment.

Survey results

Q1: Around what time do you usually return home from school? (Sample size=1,500)

Before 2 pm	1.1%
Between 2pm and 3pm	11.3%
Between 3pm and 4pm	48.0%
Between 4pm and 5pm	28.1%
Between 5pm and 6pm	6.9%
Between 6pm and 7pm	2.5%
After 7pm	2.1%

Q2: With whom do you usually return home from school? (Sample size=1,500)

With friends	65.8%
By myself	16.5%
In a group decided by school or local organisation	12.3%
With brothers or sisters	2.5%
Other	3.0%

Q3: Other than school, where do you play? (Sample size=1,500, multiple answer)

Friend’s house	64.7%
Outside in a park, public square, etc	57.3%
Own house	51.2%
Department store, supermarket, etc	10.8%
Child care facility	9.3%
Library	9.2%
Game centre	8.8%
Convenience store	5.1%
Other	7.6%

I’m not really sure why more children play at friends’ houses than at their own!

Q4: When you are by yourself, what do you do? (Sample size=1,500, multiple answer)

	All	Boys N=599	Girls N=901
Watch TV	63.9%	62.4%	64.9%
Play games	57.9%	66.9%	51.8%
Read book or comic	56.5%	53.1%	58.8%
Hobbies (painting, handicrafts, piano, etc)	34.5%	20.5%	44.0%
Listen to music	23.8%	14.4%	30.1%
Go to shops or child care facility	8.6%	10.7%	7.2%
Don’t do anything	1.1%	1.5%	0.8%
Other	12.9%	10.5%	14.4%

Above, game implies a computer game more than toys, so I’m not really sure under which category dolls or Lego, for instance, would appear.

Q5: How many days per week do you attend cram school or other lessons? (Sample size=1,500)

One day or less (eg once a fortnight)	18.2%
Two or three days	39.5%
Four or five days	16.9%
Six days or every day	8.1%
Don’t attend cram school or other lessons	17.4%