Kindergartens and preschools have become an important course of action in every child’s early developmental stage. They offer a structured environment that helps the student acquire basic life skills and opportunities to be successful in various development areas, therefore setting a rigid foundation for the further educational journey.
Japanese Kindergarten, also known as Yochien, provides experience for children to grow and develop through interactions and play. It also helps the children to become confident learners in a supported and safe environment, offering a framework of becoming, being and belonging.
Yochien also expands children’s knowledge and connections of family, culture, their environment, the broader community and themselves. They are designed in a manner to enhance your child’s development in various key areas. But, before we understand the advantages of choosing Yochien over international kindergartens, let us understand –
Japanese Kindergartens offer one, two and three years of the program for children between the ages of three and five. Most Japanese Kindergartens are privately run as the compulsory education system doesn’t cover the preschool years.
But, the government of Japan is currently considering a bill to make preschools compulsory.
The aim behind setting preschools is to offer children with relevant education they need to enter elementary school. Most preschools operate for four hours a day and tend to finish around two o’clock. This is one of the reasons why children attending preschools in Japan have stay-at-home moms or relatives like grandparents (in the case of a working mom) to look after them in the afternoon.
In recent years, the enrolment ratio of preschools in Japan has evolved rapidly because more and more working mothers are using nursery schools. This is one of the reasons why many preschools, especially the private ones, are forced to offer extended childcare hours so they can stay in business.
Due to extended childcare services, preschools are becoming quite similar to nursery international schools. In fact, the difference between both nurseries (hoikuen) and yochien is negligible.
Preschools in Japan expose children to a language-rich environment. The teachers help the children enhance their vocabulary and conversational skills. Teachers even foster the students’ language skills by asking thought-provoking questions.
Besides, children are also offered other activities to assist in moving their language skills even further. For instance, the child is encouraged to talk about his/her favourite pet or hobby.
The preschools also focus on developing students’ cognitive skills. They are given hands-on activities that excite their minds. And since a child’s brain is similar to a sponge – it can take only as much information, it is recommended that parents take advantage of this learning ability to mold the child's knowledge properly.
The social and emotional development of a child is just as important as developing cognitive skills. This is why the teachers in preschools help children learn about cooperation and responsibility by participating in (han) small group activities. Peer interactions can boost students’ interpersonal skills.
The teachers keep a low profile and rarely scold or punish the children. In Japanese preschools, the teachers let children play and settle their own disputes. Similarly, every child is given an equal opportunity of being a monitor to lead the class.
Japanese preschools focus more on fostering collective identity and teaching social skills to emphasise independence and individualism. The children are allowed to monitor themselves.
Japanese preschools prove an excellent place for kids to understand how to take care of themselves and be independent. Since there are no parents around to do things, children are left with the choice of doing things for themselves.
From unpacking their lunchboxes to organizing their personal stuff, the children only have themselves to rely on. This is the process where they learn the real skills required to tackle the real world. And not just themselves, kindergarten provides an opportunity for children to help and care for others, too. They learn behaviours that assist them in building healthy relationships with others as they develop and grow.
The Japanese preschool model is quite child-centred, and it relies on the principle of “whole-person education.” In simple terms, Japanese preschools focus on the social and emotional development of the child along with teaching friendship and responsibility.
Child-centred education also means that there is less intervention from the teachers. Children are encouraged to learn their social skills by playing. The role of teachers is to produce an optimal environment for the child’s development and monitor their activities throughout.
The teachers instill an appreciation of cooperation and friendship. Children are also encouraged to develop their creativity and sensitivity through drawing, crafts, music, caring for animals and plants, making friends and dancing.
Besides teaching children to be independent, socially inclined and emotionally developed, preschools in Japan encourage the child’s curiosity, too. For instance, the teacher’s involvement is quite minimal; such a process helps the child to be more self-dependent, therefore enabling the child to make decisions on his/her own. This, in turn, helps children to make choices and be curious about what happens next.
Preschools also help children to explore their surroundings and be curious. It offers them an opportunity to channel their inner imagination and creativity. Teachers even use creative plays as a medium of teaching the students lessons instead of a sit-down lecture within the four walls of the class.
Plus, the teachers use children-friendly toys to make the learning experience less boring and more interesting for the students.
The educational realm has evolved a lot in recent years. In fact, it has become more competitive than ever. Japanese Kindergarten has the capability of leveraging your child in the most important part of his/her developmental stage.
So, ensure to choose the right Japanese kindergarten for your child, therefore making him/her ready in the best way possible to tackle the challenges of elementary school.
How is Japanese Kindergarten curriculum unique?
How is Japanese Kindergarten curriculum unique?
How do International Montessori Schools in Tokyo spark a child’s creativity?
How do International Montessori Schools in Tokyo spark a child’s creativity?
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