Independence Days
Insights for American Parents from Japan’s ‘Old Enough’
In the Netflix series “Old Enough,” we watch as young preschoolers tackle errands that far exceed mere toy pick-up. These delightful episodes, each under ten minutes, capture the charm and capability of these little ones, prompting us to consider how much responsibility our own children could handle.
While we all aspire to foster independence in our kids, the idea of letting a 2-year-old shop for groceries alone, as seen in the show’s debut episode, seems far-fetched for many American parents. This little boy not only walks a kilometer to the store but also manages to purchase the exact items his mother needs and returns home to earn praise. While we all want that level of responsibility for our children, actually allowing them to cross busy streets waving a flag like he does is another story.
However, it’s important to note that these children are under constant surveillance by crews and camera operators. The producers carefully select families and prepare the kids for their first solo tasks, making it clear that this isn’t an everyday occurrence. In fact, the original Japanese title, Hajimete no Otsukai, translates to “My First Errand.” An article in The Guardian details the extensive preparation that goes into each episode, which was a relief to learn.
Initially, I wondered if Japanese parents truly have children navigating fish markets before they even enter kindergarten. The essence of the show is not to showcase what’s typical, but rather what’s achievable. This realization is inspiring as a mom. I still find myself cooking mac and cheese for my 16-year-old, despite having taught him how to do it numerous times. Just last weekend, my husband and I left the ingredients out for him while we attended a party, but he opted to immerse himself in Minecraft coding instead of making dinner.
Nevertheless, this show motivates me to continue encouraging my son to take on more responsibilities. I also hope “Old Enough” will help my friends outside of New York City understand that it’s normal for an 11-year-old to take the subway to school. Trust me, if you ride the subway around 7:30 AM or 3 PM, you’ll see plenty of school-age kids doing just that. I’ve even let both of my teens navigate airports alone and board flights independently. These experiences, while nerve-wracking, are possible and valuable.
The commentary accompanying the footage of these Japanese children is often amusing, but what truly warms my heart is listening to the kids mic’d up, similar to that viral video of the tiny skier. Their self-talk while running errands is simply adorable. In one episode, a mother watches her mischievous 4-year-old march off to make fresh-squeezed juice by himself, expressing both pride and a touch of sadness that he didn’t look back.
In summary, “Old Enough” encourages us to rethink our expectations of children’s independence and the responsibilities we assign to them.
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