Name: What a Japanese Childcare Centre is Like
Uploaded: 2017-08-07T14:36:21.000Z
Duration: 13 min 40 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Hello world,
this is what a Japanese daycare is like.

Azalee Nursery School, or hoikuen, cares for kids from ages zero to six.

Before you even enter childcare centers, you'll notice a difference right away.

The most popular method of transportation
is probably bike.

In Tokyo, land is expensive, and the population
is dense,

it'd be a gong show if the
majority used vehicles

Some schools do provide
their own buses though.

This facility has an
electronic sign in system,

but this is not necessarily
the norm for all of them.

A must, as in many places in Japan, is to
take off your outdoor shoes

It's such a fact of life that you can see
the speed and ease

Every kid comes with a childcare diary,
called an ikkuji nikki.

In here messages between teachers
and parents can be sent,

as well as daily records
for how the child's day went.

For the earlier arrivals, children are all
ushered into the same room,

As the morning progresses and more arrive,

the kids start separating
into their respective classes.

The reverse process happens at the end of
the day,

While young kids may have their parents
put away their belongings in a cubbyhole,

As the kids get older, they naturally get
more responsibility.

Every time kids move from one room to another,

and in response are told "You're Welcome."

Kids, being kids, jump around quite a bit.

Okay, sometimes adults like to jump around
as well.

But at certain times of the day, they are
taught to prepare for the task at hand.

If the whole group isn't ready, nothing happens.

Once it's been established
that everyone is set to go,

the kids can once again be free to bounce
around as they go about their day.

At the start of the day, while kids are
still arriving, there's free play activities.

There's lots of toys and games to play with.

There are also books and art supplies that
can be used.

This is a time where kids can do whatever
they like.

On different days there will be different
crafts,

but today these kids will be
working with clay,

Every kid owns their own set,
complete with tools and moulds.

Some of what they produce is quite impressive,
much better than I could do!

In another class, these children are working
with paper and glue

to make what I can only assume
are telescopes.

This school is a bit unique,
with all its colours and design.

Most schools will look more like this
on the outside.

However, what is the norm is to have
mini-bathroom facilities like this,

As with entering the school, going into the
bathroom also requires different footwear.

This girl was kind enough to show me
how it's done.

This is what a traditional Japanese wash station
looks like,

and if you go to any elementary
school in Japan,

you'll find less colourful
sinks just like this.

This school also has a rock climbing wall
and big gym area to play in.

Most schools have climbing equipment outdoors.

And speaking of equipment, students will often
visit local parks.

And here's what a typical group of
students will look like

Coloured hats make it easy to identify the
kids.

Music
Mah, mah, mushrooms. Mah, mah, mushrooms.

They won't, won't, won't, won't, walk like this.

Mah, mah, mushrooms. Mah, mah, mushrooms.

Music is an important component in child care.

Where's your spot on the pink line?
Where's your spot on the red line?

All teachers know how to play, and songs
are used not only for preparing kids

but also as a part of dancing, games,
and music education.

Good morning teacher, good morning everyone.

Children are also taught to play
musical instruments themselves.

The standard equipment that all kids learn
is the melodica, also know as pianaca.

Each kid owns and takes care of their own
instrument.

The school also owns a selection of instruments
that the kids get a chance to play.

The kids will practice and then show
off their skills at a pageant

Facilities of this size,
whether they're private or public,

will have a nutritionist design
the meals and prepare the food.

Subtitles ListPlay Video

What a Japanese Childcare Centre is Like

ritual

spot

separate

craft