The Decision-making Process for Mothers to Use Characters in Childcare: Interview with Mothers in Their Thirties Who Have Infants or Toddlers

DOI Web Site
  • HORII Kanako
    Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 母親が育児にキャラクターを活用する意思決定のプロセス　―乳幼児を持つ30代の母親へのインタビューを通じて―
  • ハハオヤ ガ イクジ ニ キャラクター オ カツヨウ スル イシ ケッテイ ノ プロセス : ニュウヨウジ オ モツ 30ダイ ノ ハハオヤ エ ノ インタビュー オ ツウジテ

Search this article

Abstract

<p>  The current generation of parents grew up with materials such as comic books and games. As IT devices such as smartphones and tablets have spread, it has become easier for parents and children to access contents easily, and this has brought changes to the child-rearing environment. Various studies about media effects on children have examined how television, video games or IT devices influence them. However, only a few studies have focused on the effect of contents. In the marketing area, it has been shown that characters (iconogra phic play roles appearing in contents) can be transitional objects or objects of attachment (Aihara 2007). Nowadays, various devices are widely used and specific contents are available on multiple media. Characters play a role in connecting these media to one type of content (Steinberg 2013; Azuma 2001). In light of this background, research focusing on characters from the perspective of sociology can be of significance.</p><p>   In this study, I conducted semi-structured interviews with mothers with young children in order to examine the decision-making process for mothers to use characters in childcare. I collected interview data such as character contents preferred by children, situation of character use, thoughts of mothers about characters, and changes in children, and as a result there came to light a process whereby mothers give characters to their children. First, mothers consolidate their own views and sometimes feel resistance or dislike towards giving characters. They then find the benefits of using characters, their own awareness changes as they see their children grow and change, and they feel joy and positiveness towards giving and utilizing characters. In the end, mothers come to understand their children’s interests and their future social relationships. As a whole, mothers had positive feelings about giving characters to their children through this decision-making process.</p>

Journal

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top