The Childhood Changing Magic of Mimamori
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The childhood changing magic of Mimamori
There is a children’s book called The Invisible String that describes a string made of love connecting parents and kids, no matter where they are. As a parent, I’ve often wished that string were real – especially after preschool drop off, on field trip days, or the first time my child walks into a new classroom alone.
I want my daughter to feel independent and brave. I also still want to feel connected to her, in a calm way, without constant texts, calls, or scrolling on a phone.
If you’ve ever wished for that quiet connection too, you are not alone.
Wanting the freedom we had as kids
Like many parents, I grew up in a time of banana seat bikes, neighborhood games, and being outside until dusk. No smartphones. No group chats. No location sharing apps.
Now, we are raising kids in a completely different world. Phones, apps, and social media are everywhere, and many of us feel the tension between wanting our kids to be reachable and wanting them to have a more screen free childhood.
Recent research highlights this gap between what parents want and what kids actually say they want:
- 59% of parents worry about their teens’ attachment to devices.
- 47% believe their children show signs of smartphone addiction.
- 87% of kids wish they could spend more time with their friends in person outside of school.
- 72% of 8 to 12 year olds say they would rather spend time together in person without screens than on devices.
Parents are worried about devices. Kids are asking for more real world freedom. Out of this tension, ideas like the “delayed cellphone movement” are growing – families are choosing to hold off on giving smartphones and looking for other ways to stay connected.
Enter Mimamori – a parenting approach from Japan
In Japan, there is a word for a way of parenting that sits between helicopter parenting and free range parenting. That word is Mimamori, which loosely translates to “watching over.”
Mimamori is not about hovering or tracking every move. It also is not about letting kids go completely on their own. It is about a quiet connection – being there when needed, while giving kids space to grow independence.
You can think of Mimamori as a third option between the extremes:
- Helicopter parenting – hovering, correcting, watching every step.
- Free range parenting – stepping back almost entirely.
- Mimamori – staying nearby in a calm, background way, stepping in when truly needed.
In many Japanese communities, this way of “watching over” has guided parenting for years. Kids walk to school in small groups, run errands, and ride public transit earlier than many American kids, while caregivers and neighbors quietly keep an eye out.
What Mimamori looks like in daily life
Mimamori is less about rules and more about a mindset. In everyday life, it might look like:
- Letting your child explore the playground on their own, while you watch from a distance.
- Offering encouragement only when they are about to give up, instead of stepping in right away.
- Sharing a quick smile, nod, or wave across the yard instead of constant instructions.
- Agreeing on simple “check in” points when they walk with friends or move between activities.
It is not total freedom and it is not total control. It is holding on and letting go at the same time. In English, we do not really have a single word for that mix – which is why borrowing “Mimamori” can be helpful.
Finding tools that support Mimamori
In the past, Mimamori relied mostly on community, routines, and trust. Today, many families feel pressure to bridge distances with smartphones. But phones can bring group chats, social media, late night screen time, and a constant pull to be online.
Some parents try to replace phones with simple trackers. These can be useful for location, but they do not always give kids a way to actively check in on their own terms.
For my family, the solution has been a small screen free communication device called BoT Talk. It sits somewhere between a walkie talkie and a modern communication tool:
- My child can send me a short voice message when she arrives somewhere or has something to share.
- I can check her location through an app when I need to confirm she got to school, a field trip, or an activity.
- There are no apps, timelines, or social media feeds on the device itself.
It feels close to that invisible string – a quiet connection that is there when either of us needs it, without the noise that usually comes with devices.
Why Mimamori matters now
Authors and researchers have raised concerns about what happens when childhood becomes centered on phones. More time on devices can mean less time outside, fewer in person friendships, and more exposure to online pressure at younger ages.
At the same time, our schedules are busy and our kids’ worlds are getting bigger. It makes sense that parents want a way to stay connected when kids are not right beside us.
Mimamori offers a middle path:
- Kids get real world experiences and chances to practice independence.
- Parents get small, intentional touch points instead of constant digital contact.
- The focus shifts from “always watching” to “calmly watching over.”
Simple ways to try Mimamori this month
You do not need to change everything at once to start practicing Mimamori. You can begin with small steps:
- Give your child a household task and resist the urge to redo it. Thank them and let it be.
- Let kids play a game with friends at the park while you watch from farther away instead of right next to them.
- Set up a simple check in routine – for example, a quick “I arrived” message after school or at a friend’s house.
- Talk with neighbors or other parents about shared expectations so kids can move between homes or yards more freely.
Each of these small choices sends a message to your child: “I trust you, and I am here if you need me.” That is the heart of Mimamori.
Looking ahead
This article is part of an ongoing conversation about Mimamori and modern parenting. In future pieces, we will explore how families around the world are rethinking phones, screens, and independence – and how tools like screen free communication devices can support that shift.
If you would like to explore a screen free way to stay connected with your child, you can learn more about our device here:
About the author
Katie Grant is a SoCal Journalism Award winning journalist, motherhood and babycare copywriter, and soon to be author whose work has been featured in the LA Times, Parents Magazine, The Huffington Post, Produced By, and Emmy Magazine. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the Society of Professional Journalists. She is also a mom who tries to keep her daughter’s screen time in check with baking, volleyball practice, and piano lessons.