Traditional Japanese Child Rearing Techniques

Traditional Japanese child-rearing techniques revolve around family identity and cohesiveness. Contrary to typical American parenting, the child is not viewed as an independent being in Japanese child rearing. Instead, children are seen as links in the family, and are trained to live in a manner acceptable to the entire unit. During child rearing, Japanese parents may adhere to the traditional methods of molding, shaping, and forcing the child into activities approved by the family unit.

  1. Promoting Interests

    • Traditional Japanese parents may often feel obligated to encourage children to be involved with activities that render long-term benefits. Playing soccer poorly while having fun is not considered an activity that renders such benefits. However, playing soccer with skill and technique presents the possibility of professionally engaging in the sport, which is a long-term benefit. An individual's interest is typically not recognized in traditional Japanese child rearing unless it comes with future incentives.

    Educational Achievement

    • In conjunction with obtaining long-term benefits, Japanese child rearing often involves an emphasis on educational achievement. Japanese children are often inspired by parents and other family members to attain higher educational degrees. In addition, academic excellence is emphasized in child rearing practices. Homework completion is not optional and extra-credit assignments should at minimum be attempted in traditional Japanese homes.

    Co-Sleeping

    • Infants and toddlers often sleep with parents in the traditional Japanese home. Children old enough to sleep in their own beds typically sleep in the same room as parents. The practice of co-sleeping is designed to bring children closer to parents, and help them realize the importance of family during daily interactions with the public.

    Primary Parenting

    • In general the mother is the primary parent in traditional Japanese child rearing. Since the father is viewed as the breadwinner, he is not expected to come home and help the mother with child care. Traditional Japanese mothers typically do not work outside the home, and are hence exclusively responsible for child rearing. When a Japanese mother chooses to enter the workforce, she is no longer considered a traditional Japanese mother.

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