～There is a reason for the behavior. For all teachers and parents to gain a perspective on "the child's personality".
- The following is content from the press release -
Institution for a Global Society (headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Shinobu Nakazato, President and COO; hereinafter "IGS") will begin offering "First GROW," a new service for measuring "temperament (innate characteristics)" for preschool to early elementary school-aged children in July 2025. IGS will begin offering "First GROW", a new service for measuring temperament (innate characteristics) for children from preschool to early elementary school age, from July 2025.
This service analyzes eight types of children's characteristics through a questionnaire (approximately 5 minutes) that parents and caregivers answer on their smartphones or other devices. The results are then provided in the form of a report tailored to the site, such as a preschool, home, school, or learning classroom, to provide hints on how to talk to and interact with children in accordance with their characteristics. By helping teachers and parents to share a common understanding, we support the realization of "team-based childcare" that consistently supports the child's development.
Recognize the hidden "personality" in the child's behavior.
For example, "restless" may be interpreted as "curious," and "shy" as "cautious and observant," and so on. First GROW" does not evaluate children's behavior in terms of "good" or "bad," but rather provides a scientific perspective on the underlying characteristics. By understanding the "origin of the child's character," the innate characteristics of the child, teachers and parents can find ways to interact with the child to bring out the child's potential.
A "gateway to understanding children" for teachers of all backgrounds, including young and part-time staff
The "ability to see children" cultivated by veteran staff members in nursery schools and kindergartens is mostly tacit knowledge based on experience. First GROW" transforms this tacit knowledge into formal knowledge that can be shared by the team. Especially for young, inexperienced staff, mid-career staff, and part-time staff, First GROW is a practical tool that can be used as a "base for understanding children.
Cooperation between preschools and families to realize "team-based childcare
This service provides two types of reports, one for facilities and one for parents. While organizing information that fits each perspective, both parties share a common understanding, leading to the creation of a safe and secure nurturing environment for children.
Expert and Demonstration Facility Comments
First GROW" analyzes children's characteristics and determines their types based on questionnaires sent to parents and caregivers. The development of the questionnaire was supervised by Dr. Hoichi Nakayama, a specialist in non-cognitive abilities, and was verified with the cooperation of four preschools: Rhythm Gakuen Aioi Children's School, Formazer Preschool, Formazer Nishitatsuno Preschool, and Miyake Preschool in Miyake Town.
Details of the Demonstration
- Questionnaire administered to parents in 3-5 year old classes (using smart phones)
- Based on the results of the questionnaire, the characteristics are classified into types, and a report is returned to the preschool and parents.
- Hearing on the validity and usefulness of the report
Nursery school type certified childcare center, Rhythm Gakuen Aioi Kodomoen, comments by Mr. Ryota Muramatsu, Director of Aioi Kodomoen
The visualization of the children's characteristics has improved the direction of our childcare and the quality of our dialogue with parents. I also found it useful in providing guidance to younger staff and felt it could be applied to class organization and staffing."
Features of First GROW
- Conduct scientifically based measurements and analysis:Based on the highly reliable international temperament theory, we have adopted an analysis method uniquely developed for today's children's living environment. Based on the results of a questionnaire (35 questions, approx. 5 minutes), we classify children's temperament into 8 types in an easy-to-understand manner, taking into account the impact of today's unique stimulation environment, such as smartphones and video viewing, on children's behavior.
- Report design according to the site:Two types of products are offered: one for facilities and one for parents.
- Supporting consistency in collaboration and nurturing:Enables shared understanding of children in a variety of nurturing settings such as preschool, home, and lessons.
Service Offerings and Future Prospects
Not only daycare/educational facilities such as nursery schools, kindergartens, school-age children, and learning classes, but also businesses that provide services for children (leisure, sports, etc.) can use this service as a foundation for proposing experiences and games that match the individuality of children.
We will continue to reflect feedback from the field while enhancing support content suited to each facility and strengthening feedback functions for parents.
Service Overview
- Service name: First GROW
- Start date: July 2025
- Methods of measurement and analysis:
- Administer questionnaire to parents (35 questions, approx. 5 minutes, using smart phones, tablets, and PCs)
- Report submission (two types: (1) for facilities and (2) for parents)
- Price: As a rough estimate, from 100,000 yen per facility, please inquire for details
- Details and application: Service websitehttps://www.aigrow.jp/firstgrow
Institution for a Global Society (IGS) Corporation Company Profile
An EdTech/HRTech company that provides tools to visualize people's abilities consistently from children to adults, focusing on "non-cognitive abilities" that are important for success in society. The company listed on the TSE Mothers market (currently the Growth Market) on December 29, 2021, with the corporate purpose of "providing the means to realize a sustainable society without division.
- Location: 4F, 1-11-2 Ebisu-Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0022, Japan
- Established: May 2010
- Capital: 50 million yen (as of March 31, 2025)
- Business: Providing AI-based talent assessment platform to companies and schools
- Corporate website: https://www.i-globalsociety.com/
For inquiries regarding service implementation, please contact
(nursery schools and kindergartens, schools, school children, local governments, other companies, etc.)
Noguchi & Murata, Education Division, Institution for a Global Society, Inc.
MAIL: edtech@i-globalsociety.com TEL: 03-6447-7151
APPENDIX
Since 2019, IGS has been offering Ai GROW, a non-cognitive ability measurement tool for educational institutions targeting 4th grade through middle school, high school, and college students, and First GROW is a preliminary step in this process, enabling a specialized approach for pre-school through early elementary school students First GROW" is a prelude to "Ai GROW".
A key feature of IGS's services is the ability to visualize what is needed to nurture children's "zest for life" according to their developmental stage, and to provide concrete support over the long term.
What is "Ai GROW"?
Fairly assesses as many as 25 different abilities, including non-cognitive abilities, by adding AI corrections to student-to-student evaluations.
IGS released Ai GROW, a non-cognitive ability measurement tool for visualizing and cultivating each student's strengths, in April 2019, and has been introduced for a fee in 46 prefectures in Japan and approximately 500 elementary, junior high, and high schools in Japan and abroad (cumulative, as of June 30, 2025).
Non-cognitive abilities, which are difficult to assess with conventional knowledge-based tests, can easily lead to ambiguity in assessment criteria, and because they include a wide variety of abilities, it is extremely burdensome for teachers to accurately grasp each student's abilities. Ai GROW" incorporates a method of "mutual evaluation" in which students evaluate each other in addition to their own self-evaluation. Furthermore, the AI (artificial intelligence) compensates for unnecessary biases that tend to occur when people evaluate others, such as discovery and personality biases, to visualize as many as 25 different abilities, including non-cognitive abilities, in a fair manner. (Patent No. 6589257)
- Ai GROW" Web page: https://www.aigrow.jp/aigrow(Japanese)
Dr. Yoshikazu Nakayama (Former Associate Professor, Education Promotion Organization, Okayama University; Representative Partner, All HEROs LLC) commented
The preschooler to the first half of childhood is dominated by the behavior of his or her natural traits. Affirming and appropriately nurturing the child's innate characteristics will lead to the formation of a sense of self-affirmation and the establishment of a sense of values. Through First GROW, adults involved in childcare and education should understand the child's innate characteristics and become involved in their development, which will lead to the child's better development."