In this article, I (as a working mom) will discuss about advantages and disadvantages of having kid attend Hoikuen and Youchien based on my experiences.
I have 3 childern and they went to both Hoikuen and Youchien (Nintei Kodomoen).
*Youchien that my children attended is actually Nintei Kodomoen, a type that adds the function of Hoikuen to an existing Youchien.
Youchien mentioned in this article is actually Nintei Kodomoen.
Refer to Differences: Daycare, Kindergarten, and "Certified center for early childhood education and care" in Japan for more information on each institution.
Contents
Advantages and Disadvantages of Hoikuen
Here is advantages and disadvantages of having your child attend Hoikuen.
It could vary based on your family needs and prferences.
Advantages of Hoikuen
- Opening Hours
- Nap Time
- Less Parent Involvment Required
- Flexible
- No Extended Hour Charge
- Year Around
- School Lunch
① Opening Hours
Hours of registered Hoikuen is 7:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Saturday as opposed to Yochien's hours is 7:30 - 19:00.
* Before 8:00 and after 18:00 in Yochien, you will be charged extra 100 yen.
Since parents whoes children attend Hoikuen work, you will see more children early in the morning and late in the evening when you go pick your kid up.
On the other hand, your kid could be the first or the last one in Youchien in early morning or late in evening.
② Nap Time
In Hoikuen, kids get a nap time every day (No nap time in the oldest class).
It is usually 12:00 to 14:30.
When your kid is still small and you don't come home till late in the evening, he/she will probably need a nap time.
③ Less Prent Involvement Required
Since Hoikuen is for parents who need care for their children, there are less parent involving activities.
It varies by Hoikuen, but the one my child attended have "parents day", when parents are invited to see their kids at Hoikuen, during a whole week, so parents can come anytime, any days on that week.
Also, stuff your child need to bring is basic things such as extra clothes and diapers.
On the events such as field day and performance day, Hoikuen prepares almost everything, so you don't need to worry about getting involved in.
④ Flexible
You will get a phone call from Hoikuen when your child is sick.
Hoikuen usually holds to call you for pick up at the point when you child has fever over 38.0 ℃.
*Fever-wise. Response to be taken under Covid-19 circumstance is different.
Also, they don't rush you to pick your kid up.
⑤ No Extended Hour Charge
As mentioned above, you will have to pay a little bit of extra money for early dropp off and late pick up for Youchien.
There is no extra charge for Hoikuen.
⑥ Year Around
While Youchien have summer and winter vacations, there are so such vacations at Hoikuen.
Youchien (Nintei Kodomoen, a type that adds hoikuen functions on existing youchien) are open throughout summer and winter vacations, but only kids whoes parents work come during vacations.
⑦ School Lunch
School Lunch is provided.
In order to be a registered hoikuen, they have to have a kitchen in the facility.
Kids are provided well balanced school lunch planned by a dietician.
Disadvantages of Hoikuen
- You can't choose Hoikuen
- Only parents who needs childcare
- Scale of events
- Nap time
- No Parent-to-Parent Socialization
① You can't choose Hoikuen
You can choose up to 5 hoikuen to apply, but you can't choose which one your child will attend.
The municipality determines the hoikuen based on availability and priority.
(eg. parents who have full time jobs have higher priority than one of parents who is job hunting.)
Because of that, there are times when there are no vacancies and you may not be able to have your child attend at hoikuen at the time you hoped.
Tips!
Based on my experiences, I recommend you to find hoikuen close to your house rather than close to your work if possible.
The reasons are because you can send your child to hoikuen when you are sick or when you have something to do on your day off and it's easier if hoikuen is close to your house.
Also, you can come home from work, cook dinner, and go pick up your kid if hoikuen is close to your house.
② Only parents who need childcare
Unlike youchien, hoikuen is for parents who can not provide childcare for some reasons.
If you don't have a reason to put your child in hoikuen, your child cannot attend hoikuen.
*For reasons why a child needs care, refer to Differences: Daycare, Kindergarten, and "Certified center for early childhood education and care" in Japan.
Depending on municipalities, there is a service that families that do not require childcare can use hoikuenr for about 2,000 yen per day, about three days a week.
③ Scale of events
While there are less parents involving activities at hoikuen and that is one of the advantages, scale of events are tend to smaller compared to ones in Youchien.
Yet, events that hoikuen prepare are satisfying for parents.
This is just an comparison.
④ Nap Time
Nap time is one of the biggest advantages at hoikuen, but at the same time, it could be a disadvantage.
When your child is little, he/she will need a nap time.
However, some kids at 4 years old might not need a nap time anymore.
They might go to bed late at night because they take a nap at hoikuen.
⑤ No Parent-to-Parent Socialization
Since parents whose child go to hoikuen work, they are busy.
You won't get much chance to talk to other parents.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Youchien
Here is advantages and disadvantages of having your child attend Youchien.
It could vary by your family lifestyle, needs, and preferences.
Advantages of Youchien
- Enriched Activities and Events
- School Bus
- Parent-to-Parent Socialization
- More Experiences
- Parents can Choose Youchien
① Enriched Activities and Events
Since Youchien's educational hour is 10:00 - 14:00, it seems like teachers have more time to prepare/plan activities compared to hoikuen.
(*Youchien my children attened have after-school teachers other than classroom primary teachers)
Plus, parents are involved more in events, scale of events are bigger.
② School Bus
Youchien run school bus.
You don't need to drop off and pick up your child. (Your choice)
school bus accidents
There have been some cases that kids left in school buses.
Those are rare cases, but it has happened.
The recent 2 cases, director of institution was driving a bus.
In my opinion, it tells that they didn't have enough staff to run a school.
Make sure to visit youchien and know the staff/teachers and facility before you have your child attend the youchien.
Most of youchien have open-days, 1-2 times a week for parent and kid who doesn't attend hoikuen or youchien.
③ Parent-to-Parent Socialization
There are more parent-to-parent socialization at youchien.
At least once a month, there is a parent involving event.
You will get to know all the parents in your child classroom.
④ More experiences
Since youchien have school buses, it seems like kids go out more often.
While a lot of hoikuen have "stay overnight at hoikuen" for the oldest classroom kids, youchien tend to stay overnight other than youchien such as camping facilities.
Also, youchien are more focused on activities/performances such as marching band and Japanese drum.
There are youchien which focus more on "final product" while others focus on process.
It might be harder for your child if he/she is not into (eg.) marching band but is required more practice for a better final product.
Take this in consideration when picking youchien.
⑤ Parents can Choose Youchien
Basically, parents apply to Youchien by themselves, so unless youchien is very popular, chances that your child can attend to that youchien is higher.
Disadvantages of Youchien
- No Nap Time
- Parents Involvement
- School Lunch
- Stuff to Prepare
- Not as Flexible
- Opening Hours/Extended Hour Charge
- Summer, Winter, Spring Vacations
- School Uniforms
① No Nap Time
Since youchien's educational hour is 10:00-14:00, there is no nap time (for kids over 3 years old class).
If your child comes home at 14:00, it might not be a big problem.
However, if your child is still 3 years old and stay at youchien "after-school" because parents work, going through a day without napping for a week could be hard.
Japanese school year starts in April and my child's birthday is in March; that means she just turned 3 years old when a new school year started. I figured it would be hard for her to stay at youchien 8-17 without napping everyday, so I decided to continue hoikuen until she turned 4 years old.
② Parents Involvement
In youchien, there are more parents involvement such as "open class day".
Usually kids and their parents do crafting together, so if you miss that day, your kid will be lonley...
There was a time that I couldn't participate in one of the "open class day" and my child was the only one who didn't have a parent.
Also, you will need to help your child to change clothes (costumes) and do her/his hair for a performance day and field day.
③ School Lunch
Providing school lunch varies by youchien.
You might have to pack a lunch box everyday, once a week, or once a month.
④ Stuff to Prepare
While it is a big advantage that youchien provide many activities inside and outside youchien, there are more stuff you need to prepare.
They are going to take a train, going to a shrine, etc, then you need to prepare cash (coins).
They are doing crafts and you might be asked to bring something for it.
It is a little thing, but as a working parent, it is just a little bit of extra work.
⑤ Not as Flexible
You will be asked to pick up your kid right away if your child have a fever over 37.5 ℃.
⑥ Opening Hours/Extended Hour Charge
Opening hours is 7:30 - 19:00, but you will be charged 100 yen for early drop off and late pick up.
Also, Saturday is only for kids whoes parents work.
There are not many kids in early morning and late in the evening.
*My kids never be the last one to be picked up at hoikuen even when it was almost 19:00, but they could be the last ones if I picked up them after 18:00.
⑦ Summer, Winter, Spring Vacations
There are vacations in youchien and usually kids whose parents work go to youchien during vacations.
During those times, kids get childcare, not an educationl time.
Your child can still go to youchin even if you don't work with extra pay.
Depending on your child "classification", you will need to pack a lunch box.
⑧ School Uniforms
Most of youchien have their own school uniforms, backpack, gymnastics clothing, etc.
Plus, you will need enrollment fees.
It will cost when your child enrolls in youchien.
Summary
There are advantages and disadvantages for both hoikuen and youchien as working parents.
Consider your child's temperament, your lifestyle, and what you expect from school.
| Hoikuen | Youchien | |
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Opening Hours | Enriched Activities and Events |
| Nap Time | School Bus | |
| Less Parent Involvment Required | Parent-to-Parent Socialization | |
| Flexible | More Experiences | |
| No Extended Hour Charge | Parents can Choose Youchien | |
| Year Around | ||
| School Lunch | ||
| Disadvantages | You can't choose Hoikuen | No Nap Time |
| Only parents who needs childcare | Parents Involvement | |
| Scale of events | School Lunch | |
| Nap time | Stuff to Prepare | |
| No Parent-to-Parent Socialization | Not as Flexible | |
| Opening Hours/Extended Hour Charge | ||
| Summer, Winter, Spring Vacations | ||
| School Uniforms |