世論 What Japan Thinks

japan.internet.com recently reported on a survey by goo Research into IT-assisted infant education.

Demographics

Between the 20th and 22nd of August 2012 1,083 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.7% of the sample were male, 16.3% in their teens, 17.7% in their twenties, 21.1% in their thirties, 16.1% in their forties, 16.1% in their fifties, and 12.7% aged sixty or older.

Although I do think that it may be possible to use IT equipment usefully in infant lessons and in homes with pre-school children, I worry that it just becomes a pacifier for the kids, and that by not using their hands to make tangible things they will be missing out on an important part of their development.

Research results

Q1: Do you think that infant education using PCs, tablets, etc is necessary? (Sample size=1,083)

Yes (to SQs)	23.7%
No, don’t know	76.3%

Q1SQ1: Do you think that parents should also actively create opportunities for infants to use PCs, tablets, etc at home? (Sample size=257)

Yes	80.5%
No	7.4%
Don’t know	12.1%

Q1SQ2: What kind of lessons should PCs, tablets, etc be used at? (Sample size=257, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Creative (music making, drawing, etc)	187	72.8%
English lessons	130	50.6%
How to use lessons	124	48.2%
Arithmetic lessons	97	37.7%
Communication	96	37.4%
Moral education	79	30.7%
Other	2	0.8%