This study examined how demographic and psychological factors shape the involvement of Japanese mothers in their children's education. The five demographic variables studied were family income, maternal education, family size, mothers' employment status, and sex of the child. Three forms of parental cognition were also studied: mothers'…

Notes survey findings highlighting the great diversity of Japanese preschools in terms of teachers' norms, expectations for children, and teaching methods. Discusses three distinct patterns of early schooling, particularly preschools that emphasize academic preparation within a large-group context characterized by strict discipline and few…

The views of teachers and directors in four Christian preschools and four Buddhist preschools are examined in this qualitative study of early childhood education in Japan. In Christian preschools, the guiding principle was that each child was a precious gift of God. This belief resulted in a play-oriented curriculum that maximized the choices…