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What American Parents Can Learn from Japan’s ‘Old Enough’
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On this captivating Netflix series, parents entrust their preschoolers with tasks that extend far beyond merely cleaning up their toys. The delightful adventures of these children provide a fresh perspective on what responsibilities young kids can handle. Perhaps it’s time to consider giving my own children a bit more independence!
As much as we aspire to nurture proactive kids, I can’t envision many American parents allowing their 2-year-olds to navigate a grocery store alone, as seen in the very first episode. Spoiler alert: the toddler walks a whole kilometer, picks up three items for his mom, and cheerfully returns home to earn well-deserved praise. While we all desire that level of independence for our children, few would feel comfortable letting them cross a busy street waving a little flag like this young boy does.
Interestingly, these children are closely monitored by crew members and camerapeople throughout their errands. The show’s producers meticulously select families and prepare the little ones for their first solo adventures, so this isn’t a daily occurrence for them. The original title of this long-running series, “Hajimete no Otsukai,” translates to “My First Errand.” An article in The Guardian details the extensive planning behind each episode.
This revelation was a relief! For a moment, I wondered if Japanese parents not only organized their homes with the KonMari method but also had kids capable of tackling a bustling fish market before starting school. The show aims to illustrate not what is typical, but what is achievable.
As a mother, this is genuinely inspiring. I often find myself making mac and cheese for my 16-year-old, despite having taught him how to prepare it multiple times. Last weekend, my husband and I left the ingredients and tools out for him while we attended a party. I wish I could say he cooked dinner solo, but instead, he got lost in hours of Minecraft coding and went to bed without eating.
Nonetheless, this show motivates me to keep encouraging him to take on more responsibilities. Plus, I hope “Old Enough” will help my friends outside of New York City understand that it’s perfectly normal for my 11-year-old to take the subway to school. If you hop on the subway at 7:30 AM or 3 PM, you’ll see plenty of kids of school age doing just that! I’ve also allowed both my children to navigate airports and board planes independently as teenagers. These experiences are attainable, even if they often leave me in awe and somewhat terrified.
The commentary alongside the footage of the Japanese children is amusing, but what truly warms my heart is listening to them chat with themselves as they complete their errands, reminiscent of that viral video of the adorable 3-year-old skier. Observing the brave parents brings me joy as well. In the second episode, one mother watches her mischievous 4-year-old confidently march off to make fresh-squeezed juice alone. “I’m so pleased,” she says, wiping her eyes, though she adds, “he didn’t look back…which makes me kind of sad.”
This article was originally published on April 11, 2022.
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Summary
American parents can draw valuable lessons from Japan’s “Old Enough,” a series that showcases preschoolers tackling age-appropriate errands. It encourages parents to consider the responsibilities they assign to their children while illustrating the balance between independence and supervision. The show not only highlights what children can achieve but also inspires parents to foster growth in their kids by allowing them to take on more tasks.