This video provides a detailed look into the daily operations of a Japanese daycare, Azalee Nursery School. The video begins with a brief introduction to the school and its transportation methods, which primarily involve biking due to the high cost and density of land in Tokyo.
Upon arrival, parents sign in at an electronic system, and children are required to change from outdoor shoes to indoor ones. Each child is provided with a childcare diary, called an ikkuji nikki, where teachers and parents can exchange messages and daily records of the child's activities.
The day starts with free play activities, including crafts and games, which are supervised by teachers. The children are separated into their respective classes as the day progresses. At the end of the day, the children are responsible for cleaning up their belongings.
The school also has a unique design with a rock climbing wall and a big gym area. The children are taught to play musical instruments, with each child owning and taking care of their own instrument.
The school lunch, or kyuushoku, is prepared in-house by a nutritionist and served to the children by teachers. The older children are taught to take on more responsibility for getting their food.
The video concludes with the children going to sleep, and the teachers cleaning up the bathrooms, floors, windows, and other areas that the children don't clean themselves. The video ends with a thank you to the Azalee Nursery School, the parents, and the children for allowing the filming.
1. The document describes a day at a Japanese daycare, Azalee Nursery School, which cares for children from ages zero to six.
2. The most popular method of transportation for parents dropping off and picking up their kids is by bike.
3. Due to the high cost of land and dense population in Tokyo, it would be chaotic if most parents used vehicles.
4. Some schools provide their own buses for transportation.
5. Upon entering the school, parents sign in using an electronic system.
6. In many places in Japan, it is a common practice to take off outdoor shoes and wear indoor ones.
7. Every child comes with a childcare diary, called an ikkuji nikki, where messages between teachers and parents can be sent, as well as daily records of the child's day.
8. For the earlier arrivals, children are all ushered into the same room, regardless of age.
9. As the morning progresses and more children arrive, they start separating into their respective classes.
10. The reverse process happens at the end of the day, as more and more kids go home.
11. Younger kids may have their parents put away their belongings in a cubbyhole, while older kids do this on their own.
12. As the kids get older, they naturally get more responsibility.
13. Every time kids move from one room to another, they thank the people they were with and in response are told "You're Welcome."
14. The school has a unique design with all its colors and features.
15. Most schools will look more like this on the outside.
16. The norm is to have mini-bathroom facilities like this, perfectly sized for the children.
17. This school also has a rock climbing wall and a big gym area to play in.
18. Music is an important component in child care.
19. All teachers know how to play, and songs are used not only for preparing kids for the day and new activities, but also as a part of dancing, games, and music education.
20. Children are also taught to play musical instruments themselves.
21. The standard equipment that all kids learn is the melodica, also known as pianaca.
22. Each kid owns and takes care of their own instrument.
23. The school also owns a selection of instruments that the kids get a chance to play.
24. The kids will practice and then show off their skills at a pageant to be held for their families.
25. Facilities of this size, whether they're private or public, will have a nutritionist design the meals and prepare the food.
26. All the food is made fresh and in-house.
27. When the food is ready, trolleys are packed and sent off to classrooms.
28. For the younger children, teachers will act as servers, dishing out the food and carrying it to them.
29. As the kids get older, they will take on more responsibility for getting their food.
30. When they get to elementary school, kids will be the ones responsible for dishing out the food as well.
31. There's a sort of ritual around eating food. They'll do some singing or have a little speech.
32. Everyone eats the same food, even the teachers.
33. For those with allergies or special diets, they have custom trays made up for them.
34. When kids make a mess, they have to clean it up by themselves.
35. The school doesn't have janitors, so the teachers will be responsible for cleaning the bathrooms, floors, windows, and everything that the kids don't put away or clean themselves.
36. The document ends with a thank you to the Azalee Nursery school, the parents, and the children for letting the filmmaker film.