Daycare
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Helpful Japanese Phrases for Daycare (Hoikuen) and Preschool (Yochien)
I received a request to share some helpful phrases in Japanese when it comes to daycare (hoikuen) and preschool (yochien), and if you’re a long-term reader, you’ll know that if you ask, you…
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Attending Pre-Preschool (Pre-Yochien / Pre-Hoiku) in Japan
Some of you might be thinking, “What the heck is pre-preschool?” I had the same thought when my Dutch mamatomo Linda told me about it. Preschool is already the precursor to attending school…
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Best Newborn Baby Products in Japan for 2022
NEW: This list has been updated for 2023, so check it out! I’ve written about my personal experience with newborn baby products, but as this was back in 2019, I wondered what baby…
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My Experience With an Authorized Daycare (Ninka Hoikuen) and an Unauthorized Daycare (Muninka Hoikuen) in Japan
This month and the next, some of you will be hearing about whether or not your child got into daycare. I imagine most of you will be gunning for a spot in an…
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Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenthood in Japan: Harriet’s Story (Kenya → Tokyo)
I’m beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to share this latest interview on pregnancy and motherhood in Japan. Harriet Ocharo (known online as Savvy Kenya) is a working mother of two in Japan.…
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One Year of Daycare in Japan
My daughter has officially finished one year of daycare (hoikuen) in Japan! In the beginning, I was very worried about her starting daycare from only 9 months old, especially because of the pandemic.…
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Undoukai (Sports Day) at a Japanese Daycare
Last month, my daughter (Baby A) had her very first Sports Day (運動会 ・ undoukai) at daycare! Sports Day is an event held by schools in Japan, usually in the spring or fall,…
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Sankanbi (Parents’ Day) at a Daycare in Japan
In mid-October, I participated in 参観日 (sankanbi) at my daughter’s daycare, which is a chance for parents to find out what a typical day at their child’s daycare is like. As Baby A…
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The Ultimate Guide to Stores for Baby, Toddler, and Children’s Clothes and Products in Japan
This article has been a long time coming, and I apologize for the delay! If you’ve read my other articles, I tend to refer to “baby stores” a lot so I thought it…
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Daycare Entrance Ceremony, Narashihoiku, and the Renrakucho
The third part of my series on daycare in Japan looks at the entrance ceremony as well as narashihoiku (慣らし保育) and the renrakucho (連絡帳). Just as a refresher (or in case you haven’t…