Over 30% of Mothers Feel Aesthetic Burdens When Supporting Children's Sports

Narisu Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (President: Hirokazu Muraoka, headquarters: Fukushima-ku, Osaka City) has launched an initiative supporting the promotion of lifelong sports in Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture—the hometown of professional tennis player Honori Koyama and the site of the company’s main factory since 1967—under the vision of 'a town where people live healthily and enrich their hearts through sports.' This survey was conducted to better understand parents’ awareness and support roles in children’s sports. (Survey period: June 16–22, 2026; Method: Internet-based in-house survey; Respondents: 2,186 women aged 30–49 nationwide with children; Note: Sample sizes (n) vary by question and are indicated in respective charts.)

【Survey Highlights】

① Approximately 40% of children participate in sports regularly.

Children engaged in sports are about 60% male (boys) and 40% female (girls).

② The most common sports children participate in are 'swimming,' 'soccer,' and 'baseball/softball' in that order.

For boys: 'soccer,' 'swimming,' 'baseball/softball' in order.

For girls: 'swimming,' 'dance,' 'gymnastics/trampolining' in order.

③ About 70% of parents attend their children’s sports practices, matches, or events.

Attendance rates decrease as children get older, dropping below 50% after age 15.

④ The greatest burden felt when supporting children’s sports is 'time-related demands such as transportation.'

Over 30% report aesthetic burdens such as sunburn and skin dryness.

⑤ Supporting children in outdoor sports involves significant physical strain.

Sports with the highest reported physical burden are 'tennis,' 'track and field,' and 'soccer' in order.

【Survey Results】

① About 40% of children participate in sports regularly.

We asked 2,186 women aged 30–49 nationwide whether their children engage in sports regularly. For respondents with multiple children, answers were based on the youngest child. 42.2% answered 'yes,' while 54.4% answered 'no.' Among those whose children do sports, 58.7% were boys and 41.0% were girls.

② The most common sports: 'swimming,' 'soccer,' 'baseball/softball' in order.

We asked the 923 respondents whose children do sports about the type of sport. For those involved in multiple sports, they selected the one taking the most time. 'Swimming' was the most common overall, followed by 'soccer' and 'baseball/softball.'

By gender: Among boys, 'soccer' was most common (19.0%), followed by 'swimming' (15.7%) and 'baseball/softball' (13.3%). Among girls, 'swimming' ranked first (22.2%), followed by 'dance' (13.0%) and 'gymnastics/trampolining' (10.8%).

By age and gender (excluding categories with n < 30 as reference only): For boys, 'swimming' ranked first among ages 4–6 and 7–9, but 'soccer' took the lead at ages 10–12. Preferences shift with age. 'Baseball/softball' showed little age variation. For girls, 'swimming' ranked first across ages 4–6, 7–9, and 10–12. 'Dance' appears particularly popular among girls compared to boys, ranking in the top three across all age groups from 0–15 (excluding 'others'). Both boys and girls show similar trends: sports participation typically begins around ages 4–6, peaks at ages 7–9, and declines with age. Preferences also shift by gender and age. 'Swimming' tends to be started early by both genders. 'Tennis' is more common among girls aged 10–15, while 'volleyball' peaks at ages 13–18, suggesting influence from school clubs.

③ About 70% attend their children’s sports practices or matches.

We asked whether parents attend their children’s sports practices or matches. 36.7% answered 'often,' 32.1% 'sometimes,' totaling 68.8%—approximately 70%. 17.1% answered 'rarely,' and 11.1% 'never.'

By child’s age: For ages 0–3 (small n), 53.8% 'often' attend and 26.9% 'sometimes,' totaling 80.7%. For ages 4–12, attendance remains stable, but non-attendance increases from age 13 onward.

By sport type: 'Baseball/softball' had the highest attendance at 83.2%, followed by 'dance' (80.0%) and 'soccer' (79.1%). Despite recent trends of avoiding outdoor events due to extreme heat, both 'baseball/softball' and 'soccer' are outdoor sports, suggesting venue type (indoor/outdoor) may not significantly affect parental support.

④ The greatest burden when supporting children’s sports is 'time-related demands such as transportation.'

We asked 521 women who support their children’s sports about their concerns and burdens. The most common response was 'time-related burden from practices, matches, travel, etc.' at 46.8%—nearly half. 'Economic burden from tuition, facility fees, travel, etc.' followed at 43.4%. Third was 'cooperation burden from parent interactions and event assistance' at 42.8%. Other significant burdens include 'equipment costs (uniforms, shoes)' and 'physical strain from long hours in hot or cold weather,' each approaching 40%. 'Aesthetic burdens such as sunburn and skin dryness' were reported by 33.6%—over 30%—and 'concern about reduced study time' by 30.9%. Only 8.4% reported 'no burdens felt.'

⑤ Supporting children in outdoor sports involves significant physical strain.

We cross-analyzed parental burdens and anxieties with the types of sports children participate in. (Categories with n < 30 are considered reference values only due to small sample size.)