<"Working Women" Awareness Survey> 41% of Mothers Feel the "First Grade Wall." PTA, Class Visits, and Children's School Refusal Also Issues. [ESSE・Women's "Troubles" Research Institute]

ESSEonline, a lifestyle information news media operated by Fusosha Co., Ltd., which publishes the lifestyle magazine 'ESSE' (published by Fuji Television Network, Inc.), conducted a survey on the "First Grade Wall" targeting 189 households with children in first grade or higher (※). The "First Grade Wall" refers to the situation where parents have to reconsider their working style when their children enter elementary school. There are various challenges, such as some people having to quit their jobs, or even if they continue working, their salary largely goes towards private after-school care and extracurricular activity fees.

The survey results showed that 41% of respondents have experienced the "First Grade Wall." Along with the realistic voices of readers, we introduce episodes related to the "First Grade Wall" from three members of "ESSE Best Friends 101" (a selected reader organization consisting of qualified individuals and those skilled in various aspects of life).

※ Conducted among "ESSE Friends Reporters," a reader monitor group comprising women in their 30s-50s nationwide.

Image: PIXTA

41% of 189 Readers Responded They Have Experienced the "First Grade Wall"

Survey targets: Women nationwide in their 30s-60s who have children who have entered elementary school / have already graduated.

Number of respondents: 189

Survey period: September 15, 2025 – October 22, 2025

Survey method: Online questionnaire survey

Q: Have you ever experienced the "First Grade Wall" in parenting? (Total 189 people)

Yes: 41% (78 people) No: 59% (111 people)

Approximately 40% of child-rearing households have experienced the "First Grade Wall." Many of them face it immediately after their children's advancement to elementary school.

The survey gathered voices such as, "For about a month from advancement to elementary school until Golden Week, I had to adjust my work due to earlier school dismissal than in kindergarten," "It was difficult to prepare for enrollment immediately after returning to full-time work," and "When conflicts occurred between children, it was hard to manage while working full-time."

Furthermore, voices expressing concerns about the burden of school events and PTA roles were also heard, such as, "It was difficult to manage paid leave for class visits held on weekdays," and "PTA duties come relentlessly even for full-time workers."

"There were class visits about once a month. I think the school is creating opportunities for working parents to participate, but children always want me to come, so adjusting work is tough." (Haru Haru Team-san, late 40s, housewife)

●Concerns about children's own changes

When we also surveyed challenges and difficulties felt after advancing to elementary school, we found voices expressing confusion about children's own changes, such as, "It was difficult for my child to adapt to the school timetable, and it took time to get used to it," and "My child started having night terrors, perhaps due to anxiety and tension in the new environment." However, there was also an episode like this:

"For the first two months after enrollment, my child often complained of stomach aches and poor health. Going to the infirmary continued, but one day, the teacher gave her a hairpin, saying, 'Wear this and come to school every day!' After that, she stopped complaining of ill health and gradually became able to go to school." (Haachan-san, early 30s, office worker)

●Confusion about the gap with pre-school life

Also, many cases show struggles with increased household burdens, such as, "The time spent with children, like preparing for homework and reviewing, and getting ready their belongings, significantly increased," and "It's tough to teach homework and do housework after finishing work."

Balancing Challenges & Insights from ESSE Best Friends 101

We also collected voices from three "ESSE Best Friends 101" regarding these concerns. Here are realistic voices they faced after their children's advancement, including experiences of struggling to balance work and school events, and moments when they felt increased household burden.

●Case of Ogawari-san (40s)

・Ogawari-san: Part-time office worker aiming for minimalism. Family of three: husband (40s), eldest daughter (elementary school student).

"I thought the 'First Grade Wall' wouldn't apply to me because I changed jobs from full-time to part-time and enrolled my child in after-school care. However, notifications for opening ceremonies and class visits, and sudden requests for belongings, continued, increasing the burden more than I imagined. Also, my child started refusing to go to school. To make sure my child went to school in a good mood, I tried to go out as much as possible on holidays, and sometimes took a day off work to pick her up at the regular dismissal time. The school refusal stopped, but I used up a lot of my paid leave and was physically and mentally exhausted."

●Case of Emiko Okuma-san (40s)

・Emiko Okuma-san: Organizing and storage advisor. Family of five: husband (40s), eldest daughter high school 3rd year (17), second daughter high school 1st year (15), third daughter elementary school 4th year (9).

"Recently, male participation in PTA has increased, and I feel the division of labor has progressed. However, coordinating meeting times was very difficult. I keenly realized that time management differs depending on one's working style."

●Case of Yoko Nakajima-san (30s)

・Yoko Nakajima-san: Organizing and storage advisor.

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