Kokuyo's Bright Buddy is
Support for making home learning a habit
This is an IoT stationery with a completely new concept.
NEWS
- 2024.12.05 Christmas Learning Gift! "Bright Buddy" x "Word Card Game Moji Pittan" Giveaway Campaign (12/5-15)
- 2024.08.30We held the summer vacation user event "Motivation Festival 2024"
- 2024.07.26 Improve your "basic learning ability" during the summer vacation! Collaboration campaign with Rubik's Cube (7/26-8/4)
- 2024.06.28 Featured on NHK WORLD's "BIZ STREAM"!
- 2024.05.24 Won 1st place in the "Petit long-selling stationery that helps kids study" category at the "Stationery General Election 2024"!
- 2024.05.17Started a demonstration experiment with Nonoichi Municipal Tateno Elementary School to develop a home study habit using IoT stationery
- 2024.05.08Started a demonstration experiment with Aomori City Okidate Elementary School to develop a home study habit using IoT stationery
- 2024.04.11The effectiveness of the IoT stationery "Bright Buddy" was confirmed at MyStep, a child development support and after-school day care service
- 2024.04.02 Support children's new school term! "Motivation Booster Box" will be sold for a limited time on the support purchase service "Makuake" (period: April 2nd to June 2nd, 2024)
- 2024.02.29102 parents and children participated! "Elementary School Student Debut Experience Day" was held
- 2024.02.15 Total sales of IoT stationery "Bright Buddy" exceeds 50,000 units!
- 2023.12.21 Recruitment of participants for the "Elementary School Student Debut Experience Day" event for parents and children of new first graders has begun! (Recruitment period: 2023/12/21-2024/1/8)
- 2023.12.15KOKUYO 's "Bright Buddy" x Imagineer's "Kanji Exam Smart Preparation" Winter Vacation Support Campaign (Application Period: December 15-25, 2023)
- 2023.11.30 Results of demonstration experiment with Gifu Municipal Gifu Elementary School released: Study habit established in 70% of households
- 2023.10.31New PV released: "We use Bright Buddy! | User Interview"
- 2023.09.04 [IoT Stationery x Home Learning Materials] KOKUYO begins collaboration with Shingakusha's "Shogaku Poppy"
- 2023.08.31Started a monitoring survey on the use of KOKUYO IoT stationery in child development support and after-school day care services
- 2023.08.01KOKUYO" Bright Buddy" x Imagineer "Kanji Exam Smart Preparation" Summer Vacation Support Campaign Launched
- 2023.08.01Masushindou /Jyuken Kenkyusha "Carefully Selected Study Drill Set" Giveaway Part 2 (8/1-31)
- 2023.07.26 The development story behind this product was featured on NHK's "Kanda Hakusan's This is Our Company's Dark History"!
- 2023.07.11Featured in the Yomiuri Shimbun's "Hit & Long Run"!
- 2023.07.03 We will be giving away 20 "Bright Buddy" purchasers to a random drawing to win a "Specially Selected Study Drill Set" by Masushindou and Jyuken Kenkyusha! (1st round: 7/3-31, 2nd round: 8/1-31)
- 2023.06.05 Featured on TBS TV's "Hiruobi"!
- 2023.05.17 Motivational Pen Idea Conference with Clearnote is being held (5/17-6/16)
- 2023.04.27 Gifu Municipal Elementary School, which has abolished "uniform homework," and started a demonstration experiment on creating a home study habit using IoT stationery
- 2023.02.24Featured on Fuji TV's "Mezamashi TV"!
- 2023.02.13 Monitor video "Trying out the Motivation Pen" has been released!
- 2022.12.16 The inside story behind the major update of the "Bright Buddy": What is the future of education as digitalization progresses?
- 2022.12.12 Aim to be number one out of 55 people with Bright Power! Collaboration campaign between "Bright Buddy" and "Quick Press! Kanji Stadium" (12/12-12/19)
- 2022.11.07Renewal promotional video released!
- 2022.11.07The special renewal website has been released!
- 2022.11.07 IoT stationery "Bright Buddy" has evolved! Upgraded experience through 1.3 million hours of IoT data analysis
- 2022.08.29 Report on co-creation lessons conducted by KOKUYO's "Bright Buddy" and Takehaya Elementary School attached to Tokyo Gakugei University
- 2022.08.09 [Event Report] Pencil and beautiful handwriting class for elementary school students, jointly held by KOKUYO's "Bright Buddy" and the Japan Pen Calligraphy Research Association
- 2022.07.29 The secret of motivation will be explained on the online program for elementary school students, "Kids Research Channel"!
(Saturday, August 6th, 17:00-17:30, free, pre-registration required) - 2022.07.04 A pencil and beautiful handwriting course for elementary school students will be held in collaboration with the Japan Pen Calligraphy Research Association (7/27, advance reservations required)
- 2022.06.15Kanji Kentei x Bright Buddy- Report on the results of a survey on learning status leading up to the Kanji Kentei exam released
- 2022.06.15 Featured in Business Insider Japan
25,000 units of the "Bright Buddy" have been sold. KOKUYO's first IoT stationery was created with the sincere hope of bringing happiness to children. - 2022.05.19 The effect of "praising" as seen from IoT data - Home study becomes a habit with a "praise"
- 2022.04.21Started joint research on learning support for children with developmental disabilities who need creative ways to live and learn
- 2022.03.17We will be exhibiting at a limited-time store where you can experience various smart toys (2022/3/18~4/5, reservation required)
- 2021.11.24 20,000 units sold commemorative gift campaign underway (application period until 12/26)
- 2021.11.24" Bright Buddy" cumulative shipments exceed 20,000 units
- 2021.11.10 [Calling for collaborators] Aim for your first Kanji Kentei exam with Bright Buddy!
- 2021.09.01 Announcement of the "Bright Buddy Experience Event" [Updated]
- 2021.09.01 Elementary school students' summer vacation homework situation as seen from IoT data
- 2021.07.09 Announcement of the "Bright Buddy Experience Event"
- 2021.07.09KOKUYO 's "Bright Buddy" and Showa Note's "Japonica Study Notebook" collaborate
- 2021.04.23New content distribution begins ~Collaboration with the National Institute of Polar Research~
- 2021.03.24 "I don't really want to teach my kids" says a senior mom! What's the secret to boosting your child's motivation to study?
- 2021.02.16 Published in Works No. 164, "The Essence of Success" edited by Ikujiro Nonaka
- 2021.01.29 Develop children's basic skills by "accompanying" them! Learn the effects and tips of Bright Buddy from user feedback
- 2020.12.03 Selected as the top product in the West in Nikkei MJ's "2020 Hit products Ranking"!
- 2020.09.25Collaboration with ChibiMus Drill, Japan's largest free educational resource site ~Free download of original educational drills now available~
- 2020.08.21 We won the "14th Kids Design Award" (Design category for opening up children's creativity and the future)
- 2020.08.21We have launched the "Homework Motivation Channel," a media that explores the secrets of motivation.
- 2020.07.10 A "specialist in motivating children" thoroughly examines the power of the "Bright Buddy"!
- 2020.06.08 New content for the "Bright Buddy" now available ~Collaboration with JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)~
- 2020.04.30Release of promotional video for "Bright Buddy" that makes home learning fun
- 2020.04.30Homework Bright Buddy Twitter Campaign in progress (4/30-5/13)
- 2020.04.14 [Teacher-only monitor] has ended. Thank you for your many applications!
- 2020.04.14Notice of temporary closure of KOKUYO official online store (still available on Amazon)
- 2020.03.30 We won the runner-up prize at the Impress DX Awards 2019!
- 2020.03.25We have launched "Kakihome Note", a media to support parent-child learning!
- 2020.03.10 "Android version app" has been released!
- 2020.03.10Homework Bright Buddy <iOS and Android compatible model> released!
- 2020.03.10The Bright Buddy <iOS model> is no longer on sale.
- 2020.02.05We were interviewed by the educational information site "Asahi Shimbun EduA".
- 2020.01.09 Selected for "JIDA Design Museum Selection Vol.21"!
- 2019.10.18 Announcement of exhibiting at "LITALICO Wonder Make Fest @ Tokyo" (November 9-10)!
- 2019.10.18 Announcement of participation in "Shinagawa Halloween 2019 Family Day" (10/26)!
- 2019.09.20 We won the ACC Creative Innovation Silver Award!
- 2019.09.05 Featured on NHK Good Morning Japan's "Machikado Information Room"!
- 2019.07.31 LITALICO co-hosted workshop report (Article provided by Lisemom)
- 2019.07.17 Call for applications for the "LITALICO Co-hosted Workshop in Tokyo"! (Ended)
- 2019.07.17 We have started selling the "Bright Buddy."
- 2019.07.11 The website has been launched! The product is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, July 17th.
Studying with a motivational pen
The app makes your daily efforts visible
Supports habit formation
By repeating this cycle, children's behavior of "studying" will be naturally reinforced.
The effects of Bright Buddy and when to buy it
Anything you want to know about
We asked 102 senior Yawaruki Pen users
I tried it!
Survey details: Conducted October 8-14, 2022 (N=102)
The grade level of the child using the service
Approximately 80% are 1st to 4th graders
Period of use
More than half six months!have continued for more than
Do you have any concerns before purchasing?
Did you?
Senior users talk about
Bright Buddy recommended for these kids!
When entering elementary school and starting learning
When you
For kids who like games but not studying
I think it's suitable for kids who like games.
(Woman in her 40s)
(Woman in her 30s)
For gifts (study tools)
And yet they are happy!?
(Woman in her 40s)
If you give them something related to studying as a birthday present, they will be happy and won't be surprised.
(Woman in her 40s)
That guy who never gave up after three days finally did it!
Mr. Taniguchi and his son (3rd grade elementary school)
Studying is something parents and children can enjoy together!
Yoshiwara and his son (2nd grade elementary school)
With just this,
Motivation is rising!
From the vicious cycle of "not doing it → scolding" to the positive cycle of "trying hard → praising." There are three tips for parents and children to successfully turn the "motivation habit cycle" into a positive cycle.
3 Tips
Prepare the environment
Decide on a place to study and keep it tidy.
You'll be able to get started on your homework right away.
The small things
Instead of giving your child a lot of difficult material all at once, choose materials that allow them to complete small steps in a short period of time.
Give praise immediately
Praise them on the day they do something well.
Sharing a sense of accomplishment between parent and child will encourage a more positive attitude towards studying.
More children
It makes me want to write!
A fun gimmick
full
The LED color changes depending on your enthusiasm!
The color changes the more you move towards your desk!
You can see your efforts at a glance!
What happens when you pour Bright Power you've accumulated from studying into an app?
The "Bright Tree" is growing!
The harder you work the more you will reap the rewards!
Get the items and complete your "Bright Garden"!
A total of 18 stages!
Can you clear it?
Collect items to get various
The "Bright Garden" is complete!
It makes me more and more motivated!
Studying becomes fun!
For more details, click here
more
I want to praise it!
Support parents
Function
Mark the days when you worked hard with a flower mark to record them!
Check out your child's efforts!
This will help them develop the habit of praising and encouraging others.
Find out your study time and concentration level!
Are you sitting at your desk?
The pen will decide.
It refers to the state of being fully committed to studying.
You will receive character tweets once a week!
We will inform you of changes in Bright Power.
It's an opportunity to observe how your child is doing.
I want to write
I want to praise
Base price
Open price
The dedicated app is free.
Please choose a pencil that is generally sold in Japan (suitable as a hexagonal shape with a face-to-face distance of 7-8 mm)
*The iOS trademark is used under license from Cisco in the U.S. *Android™ is a trademark of Google LLC.
FAQ
Supported OS and operation confirmed devices
[iOS] Compatible with iPhone and iPad running iOS 11 or later
[Android] Compatible with Android 7.0 and above
* Operation has been confirmed on the following devices. We plan to add more devices in the future.
product name | Product number | Maker | OS |
---|---|---|---|
AQUOS sense2 | SHV43 | sharp | Android 9 |
Arrows Be3 | F-02L | Fujitsu | Android 9 |
Dtab Compact | D-02K | HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES | Android 9 |
Galaxy S9 | SCV38 | SAMSUNG | Android 9 |
HUAWEI P20 lite | HWV32 | HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES | Android 9 |
KYV43 | BASIO3 | Kyocera | Android 7.1 |
LG style | L-03K | LG Electronics | Android 9 |
OPPO R11s | R11s | OPPO | Android 7.1(ColorOS 3.2) |
Xperia XZ1 | SO-01K | Sony | Android 9 |
Zenfone 3 | ZE520KL | ASUS | Android 8.0 |
Functions and specifications of the main unit
Can I use any pencil?
No, not all pencils will fit.
Please choose a hexagonal pencil (shaft diameter: 7-8 mm face to face) that is commonly sold in Japan.
Do I need to have my smartphone next to the Motivation Pen at all times to use it?
No, you don't need a smartphone to use it. Bright Power can be accumulated just by using the motivation pen itself.
If I turn off the motivation pen, will all Bright Power I've accumulated up until then disappear?
No, it will continue to accumulate in the memory of the motivation pen until you next pour Bright Power into your smartphone.
What is the relationship between the color of the motivation lamp and the number of apples?
The relationship is as follows:
・White, light green, green: 0 pieces
・Yellow, Sakurai: 1 piece
・Orange, red: 2 pieces
・Pink, purple: 3 pieces
・Blue: 4 pieces
・Light blue: 5 pieces
How long does the battery last?
It is designed to last for about 5 days (assuming 40 minutes of use per day).
This will vary depending on the amount of writing and frequency of communication, so please consider this as a guideline only.
What is the target age range?
The target audience is mainly second to fourth grade elementary school students (lower to middle grades).
Can it be attached to mechanical pencils, touch pens, etc. other than pencils?
No you can't.
Is the app free?
Yes. It is free to use, but some content is available for in-app purchase.
*Please note that communication fees, connection fees, packet communication fees, etc. will be borne by the customer.
How many Yawaruki Pens can be registered to one smartphone?
Up to five motivation pens can be registered to one smartphone.
Furthermore, there can only be one administrator (parent) account per smartphone.
Is it possible to combine the measurement data from two or more motivation pens into one?
No, the measurement data cannot be combined.
Can I register one Bright Buddy to multiple smartphones?
No you can't.
Will waving a pen mischievously build up your study energy?
No, the pen is equipped with a mechanism that does not detect large vibrations that do not occur during normal writing. (Patent pending)
How many days will Bright Power stored in the motivation pen last?
"About 7 days." Data older than 7 days may not be sent to the app. Please communicate frequently.
It seems like the measurement of Bright Power and motivation time is not accurate.
Depending on your writing habits or posture, measurements may not be possible or may result in errors. The battery may be low. Please charge the device.
Can I check the remaining battery level of the Yawaruki Pen?
When the battery is low, the LED near the power switch will flash yellow. In this case, please charge the battery.
How long does it take to charge?
The answer is "about 2 hours."
Do I need a smartphone with a SIM card to use it?
If you are in an environment where you can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi or other means, you can use a smartphone without a SIM card.
How do I pair (connect via Bluetooth)?
- 1. Turn on the power of the Motivation Pen (main unit).
- ②Please make sure your smartphone's Bluetooth is turned on.
- ③ Register user information in the app
■ When you register for the first time
Start the app and register your user information under "Register a Motivation Pen Owner"
■ When adding a user
Register the user information to be added from "Settings → Edit Registration Information → Add User" - ④ Search for the motivation pen, and when you find it, tap "OK"
- ⑤ Tap "Pairing" and wait a few seconds until the "Done" prompt appears.
- ⑥After pairing is complete, the power of the Yaruki Pen will automatically turn off. (The LED on the Yaruki Pen will turn off.)
- [Notes]
- Depending on the environment, Bluetooth communication may be difficult. Certain external electrical equipment such as power lines, railway overhead lines, and power plants may cause interference. Please try again in a different location.
・When the battery is low, communication will not be possible. Please charge the battery.
What is the communication distance between a smartphone and the Motivation Pen?
The communication distance is within approximately 3m.
*May vary slightly depending on smartphone model and communication environment.
Will there be any problems if I don't use the Motivation Pen for a while?
If you will not be using the battery for a long period of time, please turn off the initial switch to avoid over-discharge.
This cuts off the circuit from the battery, preventing over-discharge.
Can I use it overseas?
No, it cannot be used overseas. It has been developed in accordance with Japanese laws and regulations only.
If my Motivation Pen breaks, can it be repaired?
It depends on the situation, so please contact Kokuyo's customer service center.
What should I do when disposing of it?
When disposing of this product, please follow the disposal instructions of your local government.
Can I bring it onto an airplane?
Please turn the power off when boarding.
It is prohibited by aviation law to board an aircraft with the sensor still in operation.
Can I replace the rechargeable battery?
No you can't.
Is the Motivation Pen waterproof?
No, it is not waterproof.
If I buy a new Yawaruki Pen, can I transfer the data?
Yes, data can be transferred to the app.
[Note] Data stored in the motivation pen cannot be carried over. Please transfer the data stored in the previous motivation pen to the app and then pair the new motivation pen.
About the app specifications
Can I use the app without an internet connection?
To use the app, you must be connected to the Internet. This will update your measurement data and back up your records.
*Please note that communication, connection fees, packet communication fees, etc. will be borne by the customer.
Is there a limit to how many apples I can get in a day?
The maximum number of apples you can get from one watering is 5, but there is no limit to the number of apples you can get in a day.
Can I change to a different Bright Garden Garden while I'm working on it?
No, once you have selected Bright Garden, you cannot change to another garden until you have cleared it.
When will the weekly motivation report be delivered?
The rankings are distributed every Monday at around midnight. The rankings are compiled from Monday 00:00 to Sunday 23:59 of the previous week.
I deleted the app and my registration information within the app. Can I recover the data?
No, your existing data cannot be restored.
How do I transfer my data if I change my smartphone?
[Note] To transfer, you will need the "Owner ID" and "Nickname" issued when you set up the app.
■ Model before change
- ① Tap "Settings" → "Data Transfer"
- ② Tap "Back up data to server"
- ③ Tap "Copy ID" (The owner ID will be copied to the clipboard)
- ④ Launch the email app and paste the "Owner ID" copied in ③ into the body of the email.
- ⑤Please include your child's "nickname" in the body of the email.
- ⑥ Send to the email address used on the new smartphone
■ Model after change
- ⑦Download the app to your new smartphone
- 8. "Settings" → "Data transfer" → "Download and transfer data"
- ⑨ Copy the "Owner ID" and "Nickname" from the email sent in ⑥
- 10. Tap "Download and transfer data."
After transferring your data, please uninstall the Bright Buddy app from your "previous" device.
* If you delete a user on the "before" model, the user will also be deleted on the "after" model.
Please note that we cannot guarantee data transfer.
We shall not be held responsible for any problems that may occur, such as data loss.
How can I delete my registered "user information"?
You can delete it by going to "Settings" → "Edit Registration Information" → "Information of the Motivation Pen Owner (Child)".
However, you must register at least one user. Please note that once you delete a user, you cannot restore the deletion.
How can I completely delete my user information?
You can delete it by going to "Settings" → "Edit Registration Information" → "Initialize Registration Information". Please note that this operation will completely delete all user data from the server and cannot be restored.
Is it possible to recover deleted data after performing "initialization of registration information"?
No, data that has been permanently deleted cannot be recovered. Please be aware that this operation will permanently delete the data on the server, so once deleted, it cannot be restored.
Can one owner ID (parent) be shared across multiple smartphones?
No. It cannot be shared. Please make sure to use it on one device only. If you use the same ID on multiple devices, your data may be deleted and become unusable.
Can I transfer multiple registered users (children) to another smartphone?
No. You cannot move just one user out of multiple users (cannot be divided). When moving users, such as when changing smartphone models, all users will be moved together.
If you think it might be broken...
I can't muster Bright Power.
The following possibilities are considered:
- ①Please make sure that the power of the motivation pen is on. (The motivation lamp is flashing slowly.)
- ② Make sure that "Bluetooth" is turned on on your smartphone.
- ③Please make sure that your smartphone is connected to the Internet.
- ④If the above doesn't fix the problem, try quitting the app and restarting it.
The communication between my smartphone and the motivation pen has been lost.
The following possibilities are considered:
- ① After you pour Bright Power into your smartphone (after transferring data), the motivation pen will automatically turn off.
If you wish to continue using the pen, please turn it on again. - ② If there is no operation for 10 minutes, the communication will be forcibly disconnected.
Turn the power of the Yawaruki Pen back on and press the "Get Data" button on the app to resume communication. - ③The communication distance between the smartphone and the motivation pen is about 3m. Please use it within the communication range.
The power won't turn on.
The following possibilities are considered:
- ① Turn the switch back on for the first time.
With the pencil tip of the Yawaruki Pen facing left, first flip the switch to the left and then flip it to the right.
Bright Power LED will flash twice.
After that, check whether you can charge it using the included green USB cable.
After charging is complete, check that the power is turned on. - If recovery does not occur with ①
②With the charging cable connected to the charging source and the motivation pen, click the power switch several times to check if charging begins.
If charging begins in this state, please wait until charging is complete and then check that the power can be turned on. - If recovery does not occur with ②
③ Initialize the pen
(When you initialize the device, Bright Power stored in the motivation pen will be lost.)
Initialization Procedure
First, turn the switch to the left. (This is the same procedure as in ①.)
Next, while still holding the power switch up, turn the initial switch to the "right" position, then release the power switch. When you do this, Bright Power LED will flash white → light red → flash white, then turn off.
After doing this, please check if you can charge it using the included green USB cable. After charging is complete, please check if the power is turned on.
My USB cover has come off, is there any way to put it back on?
Yes. You can reattach it by using a sharp object such as tweezers to push in the part that came off. Note that the USB cover part may come off if you pull it too hard, but this will not affect its operation.
If the above methods do not work
Please contact the KOKUYO Customer Service Center.
https://www.kokuyo.co.jp/support/contact/
Bright Buddy Official Twitter Account
Bright Buddy- Yarukizoku
@yarukipenThis is the official character of KOKUYO's IoT stationery "Bright Buddy". The legendary Yaru-ki tribe from the land of motivation is investigating and spreading the source of "Bright Power" in the world through Bright Buddy. *Please note that we do not respond to questions or inquiries.
I finally did it!
Mr. and Mrs. Taniguchi (pseudonyms)
Kotaro (3rd grade elementary school student) & his mother (early 40s)
What was your usual home study like before you started using Bright Buddy?
He usually did the bare minimum of homework. He was also doing distance learning, but it felt like he was barely managing to do it. He doesn't do his homework until Sunday night or right before he goes to bed. He knows he has to do it, but he's the type that puts it off and never does it. Maybe this is common among boys. We once decided that we would do it after snack time, but he almost never followed that rule (laughs). We've tried a lot of different things, but it's been hard...
Would you have done it without your mother telling you to?
I tried to encourage him by asking questions like "Did you do your homework?" and "It's the appointed time, right?", but he didn't seem to listen and just replied "Yes, yes, I understand." I got angry at him sometimes, but it didn't have much effect. It's not good for either of us to get angry every day, so I had to suppress my frustration every day.
What did you think of the Motivation Pen?
He's started progressing on his own. It's like a game. It feels like there's a reward for progressing on his own. He's progressed a lot in the stage (Bright Garden) before I knew it (laughs). I think he's cleared eight of them now. I was surprised that he was so addicted to it. I think it's this visible feeling that's good. Progressing and getting a reward. My son's reward is "100 yen," but he's saving up at a rapid pace (laughs). He seems to enjoy that too. I didn't expect him to progress so quickly, so I'm regretting that I spent a little too much on the 100 yen.
What specific changes have you noticed in your child?
It's probably a feature for parents, but it seems like it's fun to look at the graphs. He often says, "Today was this time!" and "I've studied this much already this month!" He operates the iPad all by himself and appeals to me every day, saying, "Look! Look! I've made so much progress!" Also, the action of pouring Bright Power. It seems interesting that he can pour in the amount of what he has done by himself, so he sometimes repeats studying a little and pouring in a little. It's the first experience for him to see what he has studied in a tangible form, and I think it gives him a sense of accomplishment. By the way, this month I haven't even asked him once, "Did you do your homework?" Because he does it without me having to tell him. He said, "Homework alone isn't enough, so buy me a drill!" because he wants to save up five apples. I was confused and said, "It's enough now (laughs)," so he is so into it that he seems to be confident in himself by continuing to study.
Something to enjoy together!
Yoshiwara and his son
U-kun (2nd grade elementary school student) & his mother (late 30s)
What was your usual home study like before you started using Bright Buddy?
That's right. From the time they were in the first year, we decided on 60 minutes in the morning and 60 minutes in the evening, and I would say, "Get started!" I'm now in my second year, and I've been gradually adjusting and changing the time and length of time so that I can secure time to study.
When I said, "Get started!", were you able to start right away?
No no, not at all! I don't do it (laughs). Even if I set a time and say, "Okay! Let's do it!", he never does it. At his worst, it can take about two hours after I say it. In the morning, he's sleepy and falls asleep on his desk, and if I say, "Shall we do it while eating some fruit?", he just eats it and ends up doing it. He also plays with erasers or folds notebooks to make origami. That's how it is (laughs).
Does your mother get angry at that time?
He gets angry. At first he doesn't get angry, but then he doesn't really listen. If I even sound a little irritated, he says, "I won't do it because my mother is angry!" That's why I try to be very careful and always speak gently. Sometimes I try to encourage him and make him try harder before he gets angry, but sometimes he gives up and says, "It's okay, you don't have to do it."
What did you think of the "Bright Buddy"?
I tried using tablets as teaching materials, sticking stickers on them, and various other things, but I often got bored. But when I tried using the "Bright Buddy," I thought, "This is it!" The kids just seemed to enjoy it. They seemed to enjoy the way the pen's color changed, the fact that you progress through the stages (Bright Garden) and get items, and the fact that there are many different stages. They would say, "Wow, next is XX!" and it seemed like every time something different made the kids want to continue.
Has your mother changed too?
I began to think of it as something to enjoy together. Even when I couldn't be by his side all the time, I would occasionally look at him and see that his color had changed, and at that point I'd say things like, "Oh! What color has it become already?" or "You did a good job!" You can tell right away by the color whether he's been studying or not. Even when he starts studying, instead of saying "Get it done!" like before, I started to get him excited by saying, "I wonder what we'll get today?" (laughs).
There was one other thing I thought was good. When children realize they got the answer wrong, or wrote the right answer in the wrong place, it's hard for them to recover (laughs). They feel like "I tried so hard!" and get fed up. At that time, it was really good to be able to say, "Oh no! You made a mistake, but you're still motivated!" "Even if you fail, it'll keep building up!" "Anyway, if you try hard and have the motivation, it'll keep building up!" I think this helped my child to feel more positive.
(Woman in her 40s)
(Woman in her 30s)
(Woman in her 50s)