What Japanese Children Actually Do and What They Wish To Do in Their Free Time

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim: Investigating the relationship between what Japanese elementary school students (aged 8 to 12) actually do and what they want to do in their free time, and clarifying the problems concerning Japanese children’s free time. Background: Previous studies reported that 51.2% of Japanese fifth and sixth graders answered that they were either “very busy” or “busy” when asked about their after-school time. Only 21.3% of the boys and 11.4% of the girls answered that they played outside after school. Further, children aged between 9 and 13 responded that they wanted more free time. Methods: Using a self-filled questionnaire, demographic data and responses about their top activities were collected for 1,230 children who were third to sixth graders (8-12 years old). Participants were asked “What do you want to do when you have free time?” and the answer was selected among 11 choices. The relationship between free time and living time was based on multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis. Results: The top activity was utilising a digital device and then “physical activity”. The results show that there was a correspondence between children’s top activity and what they were actually doing. Children who chose screen time activity attended a cram school and had longer indoor play times and shorter outdoor play time than other children. Conclusions: Children chose an activity that could be easily done alone in a short time, and there was a lack of free time. In addition, children who chose physical activity had longer outdoor play time and shorter indoor play time than other children. We surmised that the only play that they knew was actually chosen, because there was little experience of other activities. Thus, Japanese children seem to have reduced choices and time for activities during their free time.