Hi, I’m Chihiro, a mom of two boys (ages 6 and 2), both attending Japanese daycare!
Today, I’d like to share some helpful tips for parents considering enrolling their children in Japanese daycare or kindergarten programs.
Here is a basic information about Japanese schools, such as Nurseries and kindergartens.
Hoikuen is basically daycare facilities (nurseries) while Youchien refers to kindergarten and preschool. But there is no particular difference between kindergarten and preschool in Japan. (They are combined into one organization.)
Nursery (Hoikuen) :
Hoikuen is more focused on general childcare and you can put your child at a younger age compared to Yochien. Japanese Hoikuen is open to those children who have working parents so their operational hours are longer in general and take care of your child while you are at work.
-Covered Age Group: O years old to around 5 years old (Until your child starts elementary school.) But this may vary depending on the facilities.
Youchien (Kindergarten) :
Compared to Hoikuen, Japanese Youchien is a bit different.
Youchien is open to all children regardless of their parents working status. But of course this means their operatonal hours are normally shorter than Hoikuen.
-Covered Age Group: 3 years old to 5 years old
About Fees
We have free early childhood education program in Japan, so it covers the cost of kindergartens, licensed daycare centers, and also certain unlicensed daycare facilities.
Basically, children aged 0 to 2 from households exempt from resident taxes are eligible for free education. For children aged 3 to 5, free education applies to all households in principle, though it is limited to certain designated facilities.
What is the big difference between Japan and the United States regarding the childcare??
●In Japan, a childcare worker certification is required to work as a childcare provider. But in the states, it is not necessary. They conduct a background check to see if there is any criminal record and to confirm if the person is suitable to work in an educational setting.
●Regarding school lunches, in Japan, school lunches are not made from frozen ingredients and mostly made out from scratch in the facilities where hygiene and nutrition management is conducted at. But in the states, they are made with nutrition in mind but frozen foods and canned goods are often used. Snacks also include store-bought items.
●During the nap time, each child will be provided with a cot to sleep. In Japan, they normally bring their own futon set (Individual bedding set) and they all sleep together.
●There is a greater focus on respecting and fostering individuality, so they are encouraged to have their own opinions, express their feelings, and regularly respect each other’s views. In Japan, we place a strong emphasis on harmony and cooperation instead. Education in Japan tends to focus more on teaching, whereas in the United States, it is considered more of a guiding process. By drawing out a child’s ability to learn independently and providing opportunities to spark their interest, they are encouraged to deeply explore subjects that they are interested in.
●In American preschools, normally there are no events like Japanese sports day or performance recitals. However, they do hold family-invited events occasionally and each class also hosts events often.
What we, “Explore Translation” can do for you…….
◆Finding the right school for your child based on your needs.
◆Assisting the admission procedures for a childcare facility at the city hall.
◆Providing you smooth communication assistance with the facility after admission.
Click here to learn more about what you can expect and need to be prepared for Japanese schools!
What to Expect and Prepare For Japanese Schools
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