Between Father and Child – A New Market in Child Rearing
Compared to previous generations, more under-forty fathers are actively participating in their children's lives. Research shows fathers are spending more money on activities such as trips to the museum and restaurants to develop the child's senses. From cooking to computer building, classes where children participate with their fathers are increasingly becoming popular. Service providers are seeing this change in the father-child relationship as a development of a new target market in Japan.
Different expectations or values are what pushes these fathers to take their children to various places to experience new things. While parents of the older generation wanted their children to become leaders in society, nearly half of 20 to 30 year old parents find it more important for their children to gain a special skill that will allow them to differentiate themselves and thus achieve independence. With the fathers themselves also interested in learning new things along with their children, the number of services, including workshops and tours, targeting this market is expected to grow.
B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Puget Sound in Washington.