Graduates with Independence
From “Kazenoko Letter” No.426 - July 2013

 We have over a 40 year history of providing childcare with an open curriculum and with mixed aged groups. It is very interesting to see how a child who is raised in this way grows up.

 We sometimes hear about the movements of our graduates after many years, but it’s difficult to understand simply by connecting it to who they were during their time at our daycare center. However, it is possible to track some graduates, because about 50 of them always come to our After School Care Program.

 On May 24th, we held a meeting with about 10 mothers whose child come to our After School Care Program. Elementary school is a hard environment for children compared to daycare center life where they could receive generous support. One teacher has to care for many children, so each child has to take responsibility for themselves and manage themselves to some extent.

 They go to school in a group mixed with older children. At school, they don’t see many of their friends from the daycare center. The guardians were worried if their child was doing well at school, but we found out they are actually enjoying the school commute. I’m very happy to hear this.

 I feel sure this is the result of our open curriculum which aims to establish each child’s independence.

 At our daycare center, of course, the educator in charge sets an aim for the children, but it's basically based on an open curriculum. That is, a child can choose and determine how they want to play by themselves. They decide what they want to play, whom they want to play with, or whether to continue playing from yesterday’s, etc. When they can’t decide by themselves or are still deliberating, the educator in charge will help them. It is important for each child to live energetically at their own pace. If a child continues to live through instruction or by satisfying the intentions of an adult from the time they are a baby until they go to school, they won’t be able to establish their independence.

 In this sense, I believe each of our graduates grows up independently.

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Social Welfare Corporation SUISEN FUKUSHIKAI
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