In Nagoya, Children Truly Appreciated 'Connection,' Not 'Things'! Alive Inc. Releases Analysis of 'Thank You Week'

A child happily handing over a letter

Alive Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture; CEO: Hiromi Mitsui), which operates English daycare centers, children's English conversation schools, STEM schools, and English after-school programs, held 'Thank You Week' in English at all Alive English School campuses from May 11 (Mon) to May 16 (Sat), 2026. This initiative is an educational program designed to help children recognize the 'thank you' moments in daily life and express gratitude through words and actions, thereby nurturing non-cognitive abilities such as empathy and self-esteem.

The results showed that 'mom' was the most common recipient of gratitude, at approximately 50%, followed by 'dad' at around 20%. Most expressions of gratitude were directed toward family members, indicating that children deeply value the interpersonal connections that support them in their daily lives. Further details, including characteristics by campus region, are available on the company’s website.

A Week of Saying 'Thank You' in English

Throughout the week, during lessons, children reflected freely on their feelings through questions from native English teachers such as: 'What made you feel thankful?', 'Who did you want to say thank you to?', and 'How did it feel when someone said thank you to you?'. Each child created personalized message cards, expressing gratitude to family members, friends, and teachers through words and drawings.

Aggregating data from preschoolers and elementary school students revealed that 'mom' was the most frequently thanked, followed by 'dad'. Gratitude was also expressed toward grandparents, siblings, friends, teachers, and pets, resulting in many heartwarming stories. These findings confirm that family and close relationships are vital sources of comfort and love for children.

How Gratitude Expression Changes with Age

One interesting finding from the analysis was the difference in gratitude expression by age. In preschool classes, children used direct emotional expressions such as 'thank you,' 'I love you,' and 'you're kind.' In contrast, elementary school students increasingly gave specific reasons for their gratitude, such as 'thank you for cooking meals,' 'thank you for driving me to and from school,' 'thank you for playing with me,' and 'thank you for helping me with my homework.' This trend suggests that as children grow, they become more aware of the support and love they receive from others and are better able to articulate it. It shows that children are developing the ability to not only feel gratitude but also to understand and express why they are grateful.

What Children Truly Value: Connection, Not Possessions

Moreover, the content of children's gratitude was less about receiving material items (e.g., gifts) and more about interpersonal interactions such as:

• Cooking meals for them

• Spending time together

• Listening to them

• Helping them

• Encouraging them

• Showing them love and affection

These findings indicate that children are deeply aware of and value the daily interactions and emotional support they receive from family and close ones—more than adults may realize. In modern society, opportunities for families to spend quality time together are often said to be decreasing. However, this result suggests that children truly cherish these small, everyday moments of connection and shared time.

Gratitude and Non-Cognitive Skills

This event not only allowed children to express gratitude but also helped them recognize how many people support them. During this time of reflection and sharing joyful feelings, smiles naturally spread not only among children but also among parents and staff, creating a warm and positive atmosphere throughout the classrooms. Research in positive psychology has shown that the habit of recognizing and expressing gratitude contributes to increased happiness, improved relationships, and greater resilience (the ability to overcome difficulties). At Alive, such activities are used to nurture empathy, self-esteem, communication skills, and the ability to value human connections—non-cognitive abilities that are increasingly essential in the AI era.

Future Outlook

This analysis reaffirms that warm human connections, not just knowledge and skills, play a significant role in children’s development. Alive will continue to analyze data from 'Thank You Week' to understand children’s emotional growth and evolving values, integrating these insights into educational practices. The company also plans to share results through classroom observations and parent reports, collaborating with families to support children’s growth. Through English education, Alive aims to raise children who not only speak English but also value themselves and others.

Children expressing gratitude through letters

A child happily showing their letter

About Alive Inc.

Company Overview

Headquarters: Izumi 21 Building 1F, 1-21-12 Izumi, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0001, Japan

Founded: January 18, 2001

Capital: 22 million yen

CEO: Hiromi Mitsui

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https://alive-co.com/

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Main Services

Alive Inc. operates a wide range of educational services centered on English education, guided by the mission 'Inspire the world — Enriching the future through education' and the vision 'Cultivating global leaders with the power to live and shape the future.' Services include English daycare (International School), English conversation schools (English School, After-School), STEM School, English after-school care (Dream School), dispatch of foreign teachers, career education, and a matching app, all supporting children’s growth.

Alive views English as a 'tool for thinking and connecting with the world,' emphasizing the development of non-cognitive skills such as motivation, collaboration, and resilience alongside cognitive skills like knowledge and technical ability. Through collaboration with educators from Harvard University and Silicon Valley, the company offers advanced programs in leadership, SDGs, and entrepreneurship. In January 2026, Alive signed an advisory contract with Dr. Yoichi Nakayama, a leading researcher in non-cognitive abilities, to enhance educational quality and curriculum sophistication. The company is actively cultivating true global leaders equipped with the 'power to live' and 'power to shape the future' needed in the AI era.