[Challenges in Childcare Settings] For Childcare Workers Struggling with 'Children of Concern' and 'Parents of Concern': A Gentle Explanation of Well-being Era Support Methods from a New Perspective

Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / President & CEO: Hiroaki Miyahara), through its group company Gakken Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / President & CEO: Tatsuya Nanjo), released 'Support BOOK for Children & Parents of Concern in the Well-being Era: Explained Through Manga!' on Friday, March 27, 2026.

An easy-to-understand explanation of how to view and support 'children of concern' and 'parents of concern.'
The latest support guide addressing the real challenges of childcare settings!

Author Keiko Takayama published Support Book for Parents Struggling with Difficult-to-Raise Children (Gakken) in 2007. Since then, the social landscape, family environments, and childcare settings have changed dramatically. With the spread of social media, parents increasingly come to childcare workers equipped with diverse specialized knowledge, making it ever more important for childcare workers to continuously learn and update their own expertise. In response to these changes, this book was born with an expanded scope and fresh new perspectives.

'Children of concern' and 'parents of concern' can now be found in every classroom. 'Children of concern' are defined as 'children who seem to need more careful support than usual,' while 'parents of concern' are 'parents carrying various anxieties and pressures.' The book is organized into 4 chapters: 'What Matters Most in Supporting Children and Parents of Concern,' 'Supporting Children of Concern,' 'Supporting Parents of Concern,' and 'Self-Care for Childcare Workers.' Going beyond support for children and parents, it also turns attention to how childcare workers themselves engage with children and manage their own mental health — presenting a 'way of seeing and approach to support' designed to prevent workers from becoming overwhelmed.

■ Reading children's behavior through behavioral analysis's '4 Perspectives'

To help understand children's behavior from multiple angles, this book uses the behavioral analysis framework of 'not hearing,' 'not understanding,' 'can't...