【Sense of Crisis in the AI Era】What Parents Want to Foster in Children Is “Sensitivity of the Five Senses”|aini’s Nature Experience Bookings Surpass Previous Year by 140%. Clear Behavioral Changes Observed, Such as Children Spontaneously Opening Field Guides After Experiences

From "Tide Pool Exploration: Encounter Marine Life & Enjoy Plenty of Seaside Fun with Your Family! We'll Guide You to the Shores of Southern Boso" (https://helloaini.com/travels/21299)

Locotabi Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Daisuke Takata; hereinafter "Locotabi"), operator of the experience-sharing service "aini," has conducted a survey targeting parents who participated in its family- and child-oriented nature experience programs. This survey was prompted by a surge in bookings for such programs, which have increased more than 140% compared to the previous year.

The survey revealed that 90.9% of parents feel a sense of crisis regarding their children's lack of real-world experiences. Even among households where screen time is less than three hours per day, 90% recognize the necessity of nature experiences, indicating widespread concern regardless of screen exposure. The top abilities parents wish to cultivate in children are "sensitivity through the five senses" (77.3%), while "skills for efficient searching" ranked much lower at 11.4%. Additionally, many parents reported concrete behavioral changes in their children after participating in nature experiences, such as "spontaneously opening field guides" after returning home.

Survey Summary

- 90.9% of respondents expressed a sense of crisis about "children's lack of real-life experiences." Even in households where daily screen time is under three hours, nearly 90% feel nature experiences are necessary.

- Top abilities parents want to nurture in children: "sensitivity through the five senses" (77.3%). "Search skills" ranked low at 11.4%.

- 93.6% of parents felt value in interactions with hosts; 79.5% of children were reported to have played so engrossed they lost track of time.

- After nature experiences, many parents observed concrete behavioral changes in children, such as "spontaneously opening field guides" or "starting to keep insects as pets."

Survey Overview

Survey Name: aini Nature Experience Program User Questionnaire

Method: Online survey (in-house)

Target: Parents of families who participated in aini's nature experience programs

Survey Period: June 12–21, 2026

Valid Responses: 47

High Concern Across the Board: 90% Feel a Crisis Regarding Children's Lack of Nature Experiences, Regardless of Screen Time

Question: In an AI-driven society, do you feel a sense of crisis about "children's lack of real-life experiences"?

In this survey, 91.5% of parents responded that they feel a sense of crisis about children's lack of nature experiences ("strongly feel": 44.7%, "somewhat feel": 46.8%).

Notably, this sense of crisis was widely shared regardless of children's usual screen time. In fact, 95.7% of respondents reported their child's daily screen time as "under three hours"—a figure significantly lower than the national average of "about 5 hours 27 minutes" on weekdays (and about 3 hours 54 minutes for elementary school children aged 10 and over), according to the Children and Families Agency. Even among households already maintaining lower screen exposure than the national average, 90% still felt nature experiences were essential. This suggests that the demand for nature experiences goes beyond a simple desire to "disconnect from digital devices," reflecting a strong parental desire for children to experience authentic, sensory-rich realities that cannot be replicated on screens.

※ Reference data: Children and Families Agency, FY2025 Survey on Actual Conditions of Internet Usage Environment Among Youth

In the AI Era, Parents Prioritize "Sensitivity of the Five Senses" Over "Search Skills"

Question: In the age of AI, what ability do you most want your child to develop? (Multiple answers allowed)

The survey also asked parents about the abilities they most want children to develop through nature experiences (multiple answers allowed). The most common response was "sensitivity through the five senses" (78.7%), followed by "ability to formulate one's own questions" (70.2%) and "resilience to try again after failure" (74.5%)—all exceeding 70%. In contrast, "skills for efficient searching" received only 12.8%, showing a significant gap from other responses.

As AI becomes commonplace and instant access to information becomes normal, this survey reveals that parents no longer prioritize "quickly finding the right answers." Instead, they value "the ability to ask one's own questions," "resilience to keep trying after failure," and "sensitivity through the five senses"—qualities that are difficult to cultivate through screens.

93.6% of Parents Valued Host Interactions; 79.5% of Children Were Deeply Engrossed During Experiences

Regarding interactions with hosts, 93.6% of parents reported moments when they felt the host had positively stimulated their child ("strongly felt": 51.1%, "somewhat felt": 42.6%). This suggests that beyond mere tourism, meaningful encounters with inspiring adults and human connections serve as catalysts that move children's hearts.

When asked about children's behavior during the experiences, 79.5% of parents said their children "played so engrossed they lost track of time." Children were observed attentively listening to hosts, asking repeated questions, creatively adapting to unexpected situations, and naturally interacting and cooperating with other children they had just met.

Free-response comments included: "Initially reluctant to enter the rice paddy, but once in, continued happily without complaint. Usually dislikes insects, but delighted in catching and observing small grasshoppers and snails." "Played happily with unfamiliar children and confidently tried new things without hesitation." "Surprised to see my shy child, who rarely speaks up, actively raise their hand and answer the host's questions."

From "Fun Rice Farming Experience: Learn About Rice in an Accessible Location Just a Walk from the Station—Yokohama" (https://helloaini.com/travels/48190)

Lasting Changes After the Experience: Parents Report Children Spontaneously Opening Field Guides or Starting to Keep Insects at Home

Parents shared the following specific observations regarding changes in children after the experiences:

"Stared intently at aquatic insects caught in the paddy and opened a field guide to identify them. Wanted to learn more about rice and even reserved books at the library."

"We had just bought a book about sea creatures, and it arrived right after the experience. My child read it with great enthusiasm. Before the event, they were obsessed with Beyblades, but now they read fish field guides and books, and show increased interest in drawing and crafts."

"Used to be unable to touch insects or living creatures, but became fascinated with catching crabs and now keeps them as pets."

"There wasn't an immediate big change after the experience. But by participating throughout the year in programs hosted by the same guide, my child gradually began to understand the cycles of nature. Though one year may seem long, realizing within just a year how interconnected Earth's natural phenomena are—a truly precious experience."

Rising Demand: Bookings for Family-Oriented Nature Experiences Up 147% Year-on-Year

This heightened parental awareness is reflected in actual usage data. Bookings for family- and child-oriented nature experience programs on aini have increased 147% compared to the previous year (as of May 2026).

In an era where AI is commonplace and much can be learned on screens, demand is growing for experiences that cannot be replicated digitally—such as the feel of mud, the smell of living creatures, and interactions with new people. This increasing demand for uniquely human experiences is confirmed by both survey results and usage data.

Locotabi will continue to support uniquely human ways of learning through aini, a platform that provides "real experiences" beyond textbooks and screens.

About aini

aini is an "experience platform where you can learn through play," operated by Locotabi Inc.

aini features numerous extraordinary experiences that step beyond daily life, leveraging special environments owned by hosts—such as land and rice paddies—or their specialized qualifications and deep knowledge (or passions), such as hunting or nature guiding. aini aims not only to provide experiences but also to foster a world where people warmly connect through shared moments of passion and engagement.

[Service Website] https://helloaini.com/

Operating Company

[Company Name] Locotabi Inc.

[Address] 2-5-3 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

[Representative] Representative Director Daisuke Takada

[Founded] December 1, 2015

[Business Activities] Operation of Locotabi, Locoashi, Locokau, aini, and aini school

[Corporate Website] https://locotabi.co.jp/

Inquiries Regarding This Announcement

Contact Form