In First Half of 2026, Rising Prices Top News Item on Elementary School Students' Minds

Benesse Corporation (Headquarters: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; President and CEO: Daisuke Iwase) has conducted a survey on news and current events through its correspondence education program 'Shingaku Seminar Elementary Course,' which supports the learning and daily lives of elementary school students. The survey, conducted from June 4 to June 14, 2026, targeted 7,085 elementary school students in grades 3–6 nationwide (4,545 girls, 2,004 boys, 536 who did not specify gender or selected 'other') and 1,347 parents of students in grades 1–6. Below are insights into the awareness and realities of elementary school students and their parents during the first half of 2026.

Nearly 9 in 10 students feel prices have risen; 'Potato chip bags turning black and white due to naphtha shortage' draws attention

When asked, 'Do you feel that prices of goods have increased?', 88.7% answered affirmatively, combining 'strongly agree' (56.9%) and 'somewhat agree' (31.8%). This indicates that many elementary students are acutely aware of inflation in their daily lives. Open-ended responses included comments such as 'I can't buy my favorite snacks anymore,' 'Rice is so expensive—please lower the price,' and 'When buying snacks at convenience stores with friends, prices are too high to afford,' showing how rising prices are affecting children's everyday experiences.

Additionally, responses such as 'I noticed potato chip bags turning black and white due to naphtha shortages' and 'Fewer things can be bought with my allowance' suggest that children are recognizing inflation and rising raw material costs as tangible, personal issues through changes in product appearance and their shopping experiences.

High interest in games and anime; nearly 6 in 10 anticipate more gaming time during summer break

'Games and anime' ranked third. When asked whether they expect to spend more time playing games during summer break, approximately 60% answered 'likely to increase significantly' (27.2%) or 'somewhat likely to increase' (34.1%). Open-ended responses included wishes such as 'I want more gaming time' and 'I wish there were no time limits.' At the same time, some students noted, 'I only play after finishing homework' and 'I stick to my gaming time rules.'

In 78.8% of households, rules are set for game usage. However, 42.1% of these parents reported that 'although rules exist, they are not always followed.' While children expressed a desire for more gaming time, parents voiced concerns such as 'It harms eyesight' (58.3%), 'Usage time is too long' (35.9%), and 'Children don't stop when asked' (31.5%), indicating that both parents and children are navigating how to manage gaming time as summer break approaches.

'How can we eliminate war?' Top student response: 'Talk and communicate'

'War and global affairs' ranked fourth. Ongoing conflicts and shifting international situations are frequently reported in the news, and it is clear that elementary students are paying attention to these events. When asked, 'How do you think we can end war?' (open-ended), common responses included 'Everyone should talk,' 'Eliminate weapons,' and 'Eliminate nuclear weapons.' Some students shared thoughts such as 'I think war is like a fight between countries,' 'I hope conflicts can be resolved through dialogue,' and 'I wish more countries could be peaceful like Japan.' Additional responses included 'No one benefits from war,' 'It's important to consider others' feelings,' and 'I hope people understand the value of life,' reflecting deep consideration among students about lives lost in war and the importance of peace.

The results show that elementary students are thoughtfully engaging with global events and seriously reflecting on peace.

Concerns about heatwaves and climate change rank high; nearly 9 in 10 parents feel anxious about this summer's heat

'Heatwaves and climate change' ranked sixth. In recent years, record-breaking heat has impacted children's daily lives through heatstroke prevention measures and restrictions on outdoor activities. Given that the survey was conducted just before summer break, the high level of concern about extreme heat is evident. Among parents, 93.7% said they feel anxious about the summer heat this year. Regarding difficulties experienced during last summer's heatwave, top responses included 'Unable to play outside or exercise' (69.0%), 'Electricity bills increased' (51.4%), and 'Commuting to and from school was difficult' (34.2%), indicating that extreme heat affects not only children's play and learning opportunities but also family life as a whole.

When asked which celebrity they would like to spend a hot summer with, students chose Snow Man as their top pick. Comments included 'They make me forget about the heat' and 'They give me energy,' showing that despite their concerns about the heat, students are looking to their favorite celebrities for motivation and positivity as they prepare for summer.

Nearly 4 in 10 elementary students have consulted AI about personal problems or worries

'Generative AI and AI' ranked seventh. When asked whether they had ever consulted AI about personal problems or worries, 37.9% of students answered 'frequently' (17.3%) or 'sometimes' (20.6%).

Open-ended responses included positive remarks such as 'AI can be a friend or even an older sister' and 'I can talk to AI about my problems,' while others expressed caution: 'AI can make mistakes, so I need to be careful' and 'I worry whether the answers are truly correct.' These responses suggest that while AI is becoming an accessible presence for elementary students, they are also approaching it with critical thinking rather than blindly accepting its information.

Comment from Benesse Corporation following the survey results Shuji Minakami, Head of the Shingaku Seminar Elementary Course, Benesse Corporation

One striking finding from this survey is that children do not perceive societal events as distant or unrelated to their lives.

The fact that rising prices were the top concern illustrates how social issues reported in the news directly impact children's daily lives. Economic changes that were once felt primarily by adults are now being personally experienced by children through statements like 'Fewer things can be bought with my allowance' and 'I can't buy my favorite snacks anymore.'

Moreover, children are forming their own thoughts and opinions on topics such as war, climate change, and AI. Growing up in an environment where they are constantly exposed to information, today's children are maturing with strong connections to society.

Therefore, learning going forward should not only focus on knowledge acquisition but also on nurturing the ability to internalize societal changes, think independently, make judgments, and engage in dialogue with diverse people. The Shingaku Seminar Elementary Course will continue to support children's learning, emphasizing not only academic improvement but also the development of 'thinking skills' that empower children to proactively navigate an era of rapid change.

Survey Overview

• Elementary Students

Target: 7,085 third- to sixth-grade students enrolled in the Shingaku Seminar program

Period: June 4–14, 2026

Method: Online questionnaire survey

• Parents

Target: 1,347 parents of first- to sixth-grade students registered on Benesse's parent-focused app 'Manabi Notebook'

Period: June 4–14, 2026

Method: Online questionnaire survey

[Reference Information]

Shingaku Seminar Elementary Course https://sho.benesse.co.jp/

The Shingaku Seminar Elementary Course, the most widely used learning method among elementary students in Japan※, is a home learning service available from first to sixth grade. Centered on the concept of 'making children love studying,' it enables effective learning tailored to each child's school textbooks, lesson progress, individual understanding level, and goals.

By listening to and incorporating feedback gathered through surveys like this one, the program aims to identify diverse children's interests, channel these into gateways for intellectual curiosity, and connect them to acquiring knowledge for the future and discovering the joy of learning. It supports children in developing independent study habits, discovering dreams and goals that give purpose to their learning, and continuously building the abilities needed to achieve them.

※Based on a survey of elementary student usage rates of learning methods (excluding school textbooks, reference books, and problem sets) used in April 2025 by individual subscription. User numbers were estimated using student population data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's '2024 School Basic Survey.' Comparison providers were selected based on the Yano Economic Research Institute's '2024 White Paper on the Education Industry.' (Survey conducted by Macromill Inc.; 22,566 elementary school parents responded; online survey conducted June 4–13, 2025)