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Views of Participants

I. Participant's Views on Keynote Address 1

Participants in their 20's

Child care provider (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: Family characteristics and the quality of the mother-child relationship have a stronger relevance to child development than child care.

Child care provider (female)

A: The views in support of working women were interesting. In Japan, working women do not have much support, and the different values that are prevalent in society make it difficult for them to keep working. I think the report made working women feel more confident about themselves.

Letter counselor (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: I had thought that no matter what kind of child care a child received, he or she would grow up to be a fine adult as long as the mother was aware and prepared. However, after realizing that high-quality child care has a good influence on child development, I understand that having many relationships, with both adults and children, are needed in order for human beings to mature.

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: The phrase "problem behavior" was often used in the symposium, but what kinds of behavior are considered "problem behavior"? I was also skeptical about referring to the behavior of children who are still infants in this way.

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Participants in their 30's

Former child care provider (female)

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: Choosing the right kind of child care. In Japan, it is not always possible for us to choose the child care we want so children may not be able to receive a high quality child care. In this case, what should parents do with their children and how should they get child care centers to change? Also, results indicated that it was better for mothers to have a higher education, but is this measured by the last degree received? There are many wonderful women (mothers) who have a good personality and many interests, but who are not highly educated. On the other hand, there are brainy women who lack these qualities.

Researcher (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: Family characteristics have more influence on child development that characteristics of child care, and that this was backed by objective data. I also learned that the factors influencing child development have a reciprocal effect depending on a combination of various conditions.

Graduate student (female)

A: I was impressed by the fact that the research focused on specific aspects of infant child care without coming to a simple conclusion as is commonly done in Japan. The research was impressive for its scope and ongoing nature. A news agency recently published an article on this research, but it was vague and meaningless. The perspectives of this research are helpful in considering child care in Japan, but I don't think the significance of this research will be understood in Japan yet. There is still a big difference between Japan and the United States.

Public Health Nurse (female)

A: Although mothers work, it is possible for them to maintain close bonds with their children, but putting children in child care for an extended time has a slight effect on child development. The importance of the mother's sensitivity was also interesting.

Health Nurse (female)

A: The results showed that the relationships with the mother and family were more important regardless of the type and amount of hours of child care.

Company Worker (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: I understood that long hours of child care (30 hours/week) did not effect child development, and that the parent-child relationship is not based on quantity, but quality.

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: "Positive care giving" seemed to something different from "putting children in child care" or "baby-sitting", but I would like to what this actually refers to.

Company Worker (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: The important thing is choosing high-quality child care and the choice is up to the family.

Company Worker (female)

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: These research reports indicate that the mother's sensitivity is important. What about the relationship with the father? I ask this because I would like to see the father take part in child-raising in partnership with the mother, and I feel that this is the way it should be.

Dental Assistant (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: It is important to be flexible regarding compliance and autonomy, not to over-react when children are not compliant, and to let them be dependent from time to time. This has been very useful to me in raising my child.

Freelance writer (gender unknown)

A: It destroyed the myth that children need to be raised by their mothers until the age of 3. I completely agree that children should be raised as a group effort (parents and professional child care staff) in a new social environment. However, it is necessary to lay the social infrastructure.

Freelance writer (female)

A: It is reassuring for parents who have children in child care to hear that the family care has more influence on development. But, this also leads to the question of what can be done about harm to the child in the family.

back to top

Participants in their 40's

Child care provider (gender unidentified)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: Two points interested me the most. First, the research showed that the number of hours of child care did not affect the mother-child relationship or development of attachment. Second, the mental condition of the mother and good quality child care have the greatest effect. If the mental condition of the mother has a significant influence on child development, I would like to ensure the stability of the child, inform the mother of positive changes, and support the mother emotionally so we can both enjoy watching the child develop. This is the kind of child care I would like to provide.

Kindergarten teacher (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: I was able to understand the importance of child care, but also was relieved to learn that it did not influence mothers or families. At the same time, I realized that mothers have a great influence on the development of children.

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: I question whether high-quality child care can be given regardless of the person giving the care . The data indicates that high-quality care can be given by mothers or child care providers who are not members of the family. There must be a difference between mothers and other people. I would appreciate comments on this.

Kindergarten Teacher (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: I would also like to know what mothers can do to better understand their children. Also, what kind of environment did mothers with so-called sensitivity grow up in? I think this must be related to the childhood of the mothers.

Developmental Psychologist (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: There is a correlation between the degree of cognitive development and the quality and type of child care. It was interesting that this was explained and supported by a large amount of data. I was also impressed that long-term continuous studies are being conducted.

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: I would like to know how the quality of child care differs from that in Japan in more detail.

Doctor (male)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: The hours of child care did not affect the mother-child relationship or the establishment of attachment, and this was verified through large-scale research.

Nurse (female)

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: I would like to know where we can draw the line between good and bad quality regarding the quality of child care. I think it might correspond to the division between licensed and unlicensed centers in Japan, but I would like to hear other comments.

back to top

Participants in their 50's

Child care provider (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: If child care is high quality, there is no difference whether it is provided at a child care center or at home.

Director of a kindergarten (female)

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: I am left wondering how we can apply these research results to the reality in Japan where children receive approximately 50 hours per week of child care at child care centers.

Director of a kindergarten (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: That working mothers in the United States also had the same concerns as the working mothers around me in Japan. I felt that working mothers are in the same position everywhere.

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: The quality of child care is measured by human beings, but isn't this also affected by the quality of professionals who are measuring this? Also, time and time again the phrase "child care low in quality" was used, but I would like to know what is considered to be low quality child care in the United States.

Doctor (male)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: The differences in child care in the United States and Japan stem from different social factors.

Doctor (female)

A: Regardless of the type of child care, the children's development is mostly affected by the characteristics of the family and mother. I agree with the statement that if you are confident in the way you relate to your children or yourself, you can have a good influence on your children.

Doctor (female)

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: What is the most important factor in cultivating sensitivity?

back to top

Participants in their 60's

Education related worker (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: I was able to find out about child care in the United States. The quality of child care has a significant influence on language development and cognitive development. The sensitivity of mothers is also important.

Education related worker (male)

A: I was very impressed with Dr. Friedman and what she said during her presentation and the Q&A session that was based on research. In a field where many speakers criticize without a lot of clear data, the presentation was useful because it used a lot of examples. I feel that it was relevant to Japan as well.

Participants over 70

Company worker (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: I felt that there was such a big difference between Japan and other countries. Other countries seem to be more understanding when it comes to the hours of child care. I would like to see this in Japan.

Civil servant (female)

A: The presentations were very easy to understand, and the data was detailed and very useful. The data indicated that the length of time in child care did not always have a negative effect on children and that the quality of child care was important. I would like to see the future research on children over seven.

back to top

Age Unidentified

Child care provider (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: I wanted to hear more about how to improve the quality of child care providers. I realized once again how much the education of child care providers, relationship between the married couple, and income have on the mental and physical growth of children.

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: I heard that the countries do not devote enough resources to child care, even in the United States and in Europe. This is disappointing because child care is the basis of character formation. It is also unfortunate that the situation in Japan is very similar.

Researcher (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: NICHD's research was interesting, especially the fact that family conditions and characteristics are deeply related to child care and child rearing.

Doctor (male)

A: The conclusion that society should support child care for working women was persuasive.

Letter Counselor (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: The sensitivity of the mothers has a significant influence on child development.

Q: What did you question? What didn't you understand?

A: I wonder how we should understand sensitivity and the love that the mothers feel toward their children?

Occupation unknown (female)

Q: What did you find most interesting?

A: In the United States, child care by someone other than the mother starts from an early age, and this is very different from Japan. I found it interesting that the study analyzed other factors than time and age.

Message from CRN

We regret that we are unable to post all of the opinions, but participants, regardless of age and gender, seemed to be interested in the sensitivity of mothers and how to define high-quality child care.

back to top

	Views of Participants

	I. Participant's Views on Keynote Address 1

	Participants in their 20's
		Child care provider (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	Family characteristics and the quality of the mother-child relationship have a stronger relevance to child development than child care.
		Child care provider (female)
		A:	The views in support of working women were interesting. In Japan, working women do not have much support, and the different values that are prevalent in society make it difficult for them to keep working. I think the report made working women feel more confident about themselves.
		Letter counselor (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	I had thought that no matter what kind of child care a child received, he or she would grow up to be a fine adult as long as the mother was aware and prepared. However, after realizing that high-quality child care has a good influence on child development, I understand that having many relationships, with both adults and children, are needed in order for human beings to mature.
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	The phrase "problem behavior" was often used in the symposium, but what kinds of behavior are considered "problem behavior"? I was also skeptical about referring to the behavior of children who are still infants in this way.
back to top

	Participants in their 30's
		Former child care provider (female)
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	Choosing the right kind of child care. In Japan, it is not always possible for us to choose the child care we want so children may not be able to receive a high quality child care. In this case, what should parents do with their children and how should they get child care centers to change? Also, results indicated that it was better for mothers to have a higher education, but is this measured by the last degree received? There are many wonderful women (mothers) who have a good personality and many interests, but who are not highly educated. On the other hand, there are brainy women who lack these qualities.
		Researcher (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	Family characteristics have more influence on child development that characteristics of child care, and that this was backed by objective data. I also learned that the factors influencing child development have a reciprocal effect depending on a combination of various conditions.
		Graduate student (female)
		A:	I was impressed by the fact that the research focused on specific aspects of infant child care without coming to a simple conclusion as is commonly done in Japan. The research was impressive for its scope and ongoing nature. A news agency recently published an article on this research, but it was vague and meaningless. The perspectives of this research are helpful in considering child care in Japan, but I don't think the significance of this research will be understood in Japan yet. There is still a big difference between Japan and the United States.
		Public Health Nurse (female)
		A:	Although mothers work, it is possible for them to maintain close bonds with their children, but putting children in child care for an extended time has a slight effect on child development. The importance of the mother's sensitivity was also interesting.
		Health Nurse (female)
		A:	The results showed that the relationships with the mother and family were more important regardless of the type and amount of hours of child care.
		Company Worker (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	I understood that long hours of child care (30 hours/week) did not effect child development, and that the parent-child relationship is not based on quantity, but quality.
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	"Positive care giving" seemed to something different from "putting children in child care" or "baby-sitting", but I would like to what this actually refers to.
		Company Worker (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	The important thing is choosing high-quality child care and the choice is up to the family.
		Company Worker (female)
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	These research reports indicate that the mother's sensitivity is important. What about the relationship with the father? I ask this because I would like to see the father take part in child-raising in partnership with the mother, and I feel that this is the way it should be.
		Dental Assistant (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	It is important to be flexible regarding compliance and autonomy, not to over-react when children are not compliant, and to let them be dependent from time to time. This has been very useful to me in raising my child.
		Freelance writer (gender unknown)
		A:	It destroyed the myth that children need to be raised by their mothers until the age of 3. I completely agree that children should be raised as a group effort (parents and professional child care staff) in a new social environment. However, it is necessary to lay the social infrastructure.
		Freelance writer (female)
		A:	It is reassuring for parents who have children in child care to hear that the family care has more influence on development. But, this also leads to the question of what can be done about harm to the child in the family.
back to top

	Participants in their 40's
		Child care provider (gender unidentified)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	Two points interested me the most. First, the research showed that the number of hours of child care did not affect the mother-child relationship or development of attachment. Second, the mental condition of the mother and good quality child care have the greatest effect. If the mental condition of the mother has a significant influence on child development, I would like to ensure the stability of the child, inform the mother of positive changes, and support the mother emotionally so we can both enjoy watching the child develop. This is the kind of child care I would like to provide.
		Kindergarten teacher (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	I was able to understand the importance of child care, but also was relieved to learn that it did not influence mothers or families. At the same time, I realized that mothers have a great influence on the development of children.
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	I question whether high-quality child care can be given regardless of the person giving the care . The data indicates that high-quality care can be given by mothers or child care providers who are not members of the family. There must be a difference between mothers and other people. I would appreciate comments on this.
		Kindergarten Teacher (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	I would also like to know what mothers can do to better understand their children. Also, what kind of environment did mothers with so-called sensitivity grow up in? I think this must be related to the childhood of the mothers.
		Developmental Psychologist (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	There is a correlation between the degree of cognitive development and the quality and type of child care. It was interesting that this was explained and supported by a large amount of data. I was also impressed that long-term continuous studies are being conducted.
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	I would like to know how the quality of child care differs from that in Japan in more detail.
		Doctor (male)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	The hours of child care did not affect the mother-child relationship or the establishment of attachment, and this was verified through large-scale research.
		Nurse (female)
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	I would like to know where we can draw the line between good and bad quality regarding the quality of child care. I think it might correspond to the division between licensed and unlicensed centers in Japan, but I would like to hear other comments.
back to top

	Participants in their 50's
		Child care provider (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	If child care is high quality, there is no difference whether it is provided at a child care center or at home.
		Director of a kindergarten (female)
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	I am left wondering how we can apply these research results to the reality in Japan where children receive approximately 50 hours per week of child care at child care centers.
		Director of a kindergarten (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	That working mothers in the United States also had the same concerns as the working mothers around me in Japan. I felt that working mothers are in the same position everywhere.
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	The quality of child care is measured by human beings, but isn't this also affected by the quality of professionals who are measuring this? Also, time and time again the phrase "child care low in quality" was used, but I would like to know what is considered to be low quality child care in the United States.
		Doctor (male)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	The differences in child care in the United States and Japan stem from different social factors.
		Doctor (female)
		A:	Regardless of the type of child care, the children's development is mostly affected by the characteristics of the family and mother. I agree with the statement that if you are confident in the way you relate to your children or yourself, you can have a good influence on your children.
		Doctor (female)
		Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
		A:	What is the most important factor in cultivating sensitivity?
back to top

Participants in their 60's
	Education related worker (female)
	Q:	What did you find most interesting?
	A:	I was able to find out about child care in the United States. The quality of child care has a significant influence on language development and cognitive development. The sensitivity of mothers is also important.
	Education related worker (male)
	A:	I was very impressed with Dr. Friedman and what she said during her presentation and the Q&A session that was based on research. In a field where many speakers criticize without a lot of clear data, the presentation was useful because it used a lot of examples. I feel that it was relevant to Japan as well.

	Participants over 70
		Company worker (female)
		Q:	What did you find most interesting?
		A:	I felt that there was such a big difference between Japan and other countries. Other countries seem to be more understanding when it comes to the hours of child care. I would like to see this in Japan.
		Civil servant (female)
		A:	The presentations were very easy to understand, and the data was detailed and very useful. The data indicated that the length of time in child care did not always have a negative effect on children and that the quality of child care was important. I would like to see the future research on children over seven.
back to top

Age Unidentified
	Child care provider (female)
	Q:	What did you find most interesting?
	A:	I wanted to hear more about how to improve the quality of child care providers. I realized once again how much the education of child care providers, relationship between the married couple, and income have on the mental and physical growth of children.
	Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
	A:	I heard that the countries do not devote enough resources to child care, even in the United States and in Europe. This is disappointing because child care is the basis of character formation. It is also unfortunate that the situation in Japan is very similar.
	Researcher (female)
	Q:	What did you find most interesting?
	A:	NICHD's research was interesting, especially the fact that family conditions and characteristics are deeply related to child care and child rearing.
	Doctor (male)
	A:	The conclusion that society should support child care for working women was persuasive.
	Letter Counselor (female)
	Q:	What did you find most interesting?
	A:	The sensitivity of the mothers has a significant influence on child development.
	Q:	What did you question? What didn't you understand?
	A:	I wonder how we should understand sensitivity and the love that the mothers feel toward their children?
	Occupation unknown (female)
	Q:	What did you find most interesting?
	A:	In the United States, child care by someone other than the mother starts from an early age, and this is very different from Japan. I found it interesting that the study analyzed other factors than time and age.

	Message from CRN
	We regret that we are unable to post all of the opinions, but participants, regardless of age and gender, seemed to be interested in the sensitivity of mothers and how to define high-quality child care.
back to top