According to a survey conducted by a general incorporated foundation, the number of users of children's centers nationwide has decreased significantly due to the effects of the new coronavirus.


Experts say, "The needs of children's centers have not decreased, and it is necessary to create a system that can handle situations such as the Korona-ka as a familiar facility that anyone can use."

This survey is conducted once every five years by the Foundation for Promotion of Healthy Child Development as a subsidized project of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and responses were received from more than 3,600 children's centers nationwide.



According to this, the average number of users in the second year of Reiwa was about 10,000 in small children's halls and children's centers, which was about half the number in the previous survey in 2015.



The average number of users of large children's halls was about 107,000, which was about 40% of the previous survey.



In the year when the infection of the new coronavirus spread, it is thought that the number of users decreased significantly due to the closure of the museum and the limitation of the number of users.



In addition to raising children by playing and providing a place to stay, the activities of the children's center include "correspondence to children who need consideration" and "child-rearing support" such as having troubles at home or suspected abuse. However, in the survey, 8.8% of the children's centers answered that they had found abuse by their parents, which is about 6 points less than the previous survey.



Professor Satoshi Otake of Rissho University, who served as the chief research committee member for analyzing the survey results, said, "It seems that the early detection of abuse etc. was affected by the inability to talk face-to-face with children. The number of users decreased. Has not reduced the needs of the children's center, and as a familiar facility that anyone can use, it is necessary to create a system that can respond even in situations such as the Corona disaster, such as being able to consult without visiting. "

The efforts of children's centers in each region are ...

Under the influence of the new corona, children's centers around the world have tried and errored how to continue watching over children and supporting their parents.



Of these, "Municipal Totsuka Children's Center Aspar" in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, was closed for 89 days from March to May, two years before the spread of the new corona infection.



Until then, there were an average of about 250 users a day, and it was said that it was a place where not only children but also parents could connect with each other through play and exercise.



While the museum is closed, staff at the children's center are worried about parents who are worried about their children's appearance and childcare, so they look around the park and call their homes. I continued to watch over.



Since then, we have taken measures against infection, such as limiting the number of users to 160 per day, before opening the museum.



This is because he wanted to secure a place where parents and children could easily drop in even under the influence of the new Corona.



On June 1st, we resumed contact play and storytelling activities for the first time in about two years.



The mother who participated with the 1 year and 3 month old child said, "I couldn't go out easily and spent time alone. When I come to the children's house, I feel that the child's facial expressions become richer. It will be a relief and it is an indispensable existence. "



Yukie Sawada, an adviser to this children's center, said, "I think there were many parents and children who felt lonely because of the corona, but I was also able to learn new ways of connecting, such as online events. I want to make it a place where everyone in the community can grow up. "