Foreigners who come to Japan to see its most beautiful sights are often surprised by the way local children behave. Discipline, mature behavior, and greater self-sufficiency shock tourists. Japanese parenting is different from Western parenting because the most important thing for Japanese people is their unique values.
Differences between Japanese pedagogical methods and European ones
There are two approaches to child education, such as proximal and distal. The first one is created for permanent and long-term physical contact between mother and child. The second one influences visual contact or communication through facial expressions and words.
The Japanese like proximal methods. Physical contact between mother and child, such as sleeping together, bathing, and playing is a rule there. Mother is in constant contact with her child during the first two years of life. The reason is that they have to spend no more than two hours a week apart. In Japan, nannies are very rare.
Another difference in Japanese methods is that it is important for children to learn to express themselves. The most important thing for them is their individuality. Japanese upbringing of children is aimed at teaching them to think of other people and to act in life without confrontation and fuss.
Other features of Japanese pedagogical methods
The Japanese method of raising children has several unique features.
- The importance of compassion. Japanese women are famous for their frequent telling babies that their actions affect other people’s feelings and empathy.
- Social pressure instead of punishment. All small Japanese are part of small groups, such as school and sports clubs, where collaboration is a major factor. The social pressures of these groups discipline and socialize children.
- Cultural influence. Japanese people value things like compassion and limiting emotion. This is why they develop these skills in their children from a very early age. The cultural context of the country contributes to this.
Mastery in limiting emotions and expectations and trust in adults is the result of Japanese parenting methods. This capacity for self-regulation makes boys and girls more calm and obedient. We believe that parents from other countries can take a couple of tips from Japanese methods.
