Japan is a popular country for education. There are equal opportunities given to regular and students with disabilities. Education is compulsory for elementary and lower secondary levels. Day-cares and Kindergarten in Japan are relatively different as the former is for children as small as 56 days and Japanese kindergarten is for students from the age group of 3 to 6 years.
Daycare in Japan is referred to as Hoikuen and kindergarten as Yochein. Kindergarten in Japan is not mandatory but is an education level that leads to a smooth transition for elementary school. Japanese kindergarten is run by private and public institutions.
Major Differences Between Day-Care and Kindergarten in Japan
Daycares in Japan fall under the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) who are responsible to issue the day-care workers’ license, whereas kindergarten in Japan is under the Ministry of Education (MEXT).
In daycares, the caretaker’s primary job is to take care of the children in a safe and secure environment and see to it that they are provided with good hygienic food and continuous monitoring. Kindergarten in Japan caters to older children; hence they are in a better position to respond to the caretakers or teachers.
Day-care is for infants of 56 days old to 6-year-old kids and kindergarten in Japan is for 3- to 6-year-old children.
In day-care children build their language, physical and social skills through interaction with peers and caretakers and by physical activities, and in Japanese kindergarten, the educational system is divided into an unstructured environment where the focus of development is based on play and a structured environment where the focus is on the smooth transition of the child to elementary level with the entrance exam.
Day-care is a viable option for working parents or parents working in shifts as they can leave their child for the whole day. Kindergarten in Japan is a regular school that operates within a stipulated time.
A Sneak Peek into a Typical Kindergarten in Japan
Kindergarten in Japan is for toddlers between 3 to 6 years and hence will be operating from morning to mid-afternoon. The standard timing of Japanese kindergarten is between 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.
In the Japanese kindergarten, children are taught important things like how to respect teachers and fellow mates, interact, language skills, social skills and are nurtured in a positive environment to develop a love for learning. Here the teachers and parents share a great bond by keeping updated with the child’s journey.
Some of the kindergartens in Japan also provide extended services that would be beneficial for working mothers to leave their kids in a safe place. Usually, the kindergarten in Japan operates for 4 to 5 hours a day giving children room for development and learning.
The size of an average kindergarten in Japan would be more than 100 children and the teachers are experts and Montessori certified. The Japanese kindergarten has spacious classrooms with well-structured playgrounds and facilities.
Japanese Kindergarten Requirements
Kindergarten is one of the most important schooling levels as that provides a strong basis for future education. As the mind of children in this age group develops quickly, they can grasp and store the knowledge effectively. Children at this age should be exposed to various co-curricular and extracurricular activities apart from the regular subjects to understand and nurture their instincts.
As most Japanese kindergartens are privately owned, each school has its own set of procedures. To understand and get information on the process, parents must attend the school’s general information session (nyuuen setsumeikai). The basic requirements are:
● In the general information session, the school admission process is explained.
● A date will be fixed for submitting the application along with the necessary documents.
● Each school has its own norms in terms of classroom capacity and once the limit is fulfilled the school will stop accepting the applications.
● The academic year of the Japanese kindergarten starts from April 1st to March 31st. The child must be within the age group of 3 to 6 years according to the date mentioned for enrolment.
● The public kindergarten in Japan is a 2-year program and the private kindergarten is a 3-year program.
● After the submission of the application, the school will schedule an interview for the student in the month of October.
● In the month of January, the Japanese kindergarten will have the school day that is to be observed by the parents.
● In the month of April, the school entrance ceremony will be held wherein the children will attend the first day of their kindergarten in Japan.
The Top Kindergarten in Japan
The Global Indian International School is one of the best kindergartens in Japan that provides holistic education combining Montessori teaching with the latest teaching methodologies. This school offers the leading Global Montessori Plus Programme that focuses on the development of skills, abilities, and personality.
The award-winning GMP curriculum fosters students in a positive and happy environment that prepares them for upgrading to primary school and preparing them to face future challenges. The Montessori pedagogy aims at moulding the students to become future leaders.
The Japanese kindergarten learning structure is a blend of Sports, Culture, Science, and Technology as per the directions of the Ministry of Education. GIIS has two levels of kindergarten in Japan and these are KG1 and KG2. The age criteria are 3 years and above for KG1 and 4 years and above as of 31st March for KG2.
Our expert teachers are well versed with the latest teaching techniques and strive towards building the creativity and extra capabilities of students by introducing the lessons, new ideas, and concepts.
Also Read: Major Advantages of Choosing Japanese Kindergarten
The exclusive GMP plus programme is a combination of traditional teaching methodologies with modern tools and techniques that provides an all-round development of students. The unique 9 GEMS programme focuses on the nine developmental areas of excellence, including academics, sports, the arts, skills, and values.
Students are made to develop their capabilities like entrepreneurial and leadership skills at a young age that will help them to take better self-made decisions and be prepared for the higher education of their choice.
The subjects offered are also a mix of academics and activity-based that include English, Hindi, Environmental Studies, STEM, Mathematics, Dance and Play, Free play and Structured play, and Montessori.
