We aim to create a better future for children by enhancing the value of childcare workers —Yokomine-method Kids Academy

Yokomine-method Kids Academy

“All children are geniuses! All children can do it!” Based on its childcare policy, the Yokomine-method Kids Academy fosters children’s life skills by developing their thinking, decision-making, and executing capabilities. We interviewed Saori Izaki, who is director of the Yokomine-method Kids Academy in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. She talked about how childcare workers should be and the future vision that she aims for.

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Saori Izaki
In 2018, she joined the Yokomine-method Kids Academy in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. After gaining childcare experience, she was appointed director. In line with the concept of “child raising, not babysitting,” we are striving for the further development of Yokomine Co., Ltd.

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What prompted you to get involved in the childcare industry?
I have been interested in childcare services since childhood, so I took a childcare course at university. After graduating from university, I pursued a different career to gain work experience, but when my father opened this kindergarten, I joined.

What is important for the management of this academy?
The motto of the Yokomine method is “child raising, not babysitting.” In accordance with this, we offer childcare services for children to grow steadily. All staff members are engaged in the development of children’s capabilities to overcome difficulties and survive on their own without wasting time. At present, many children have working parents. Therefore, we would like to support such busy parents in raising their children so that they can have time to take a rest.

What is important for the management of this academy?
The motto of the Yokomine method is “child raising, not babysitting.” In accordance with this, we offer childcare services for children to grow steadily. All staff members are engaged in the development of children’s capabilities to overcome difficulties and survive on their own without wasting time. At present, many children have working parents. Therefore, we would like to support such busy parents in raising their children so that they can have time to take a rest.

Do you think that the roles of and expectations for childcare workers are changing as society changes?
A few years ago, the roles of childcare workers were reported in the media, with the sentiment that “childcare workers are replaceable.” At that time, I was working at this kindergarten and thought that that might be true. However, I was not fully convinced our staffs (childcare workers) were replaceable. Now I think that each childcare workers is expected to demonstrate their one-of-a-kind value and establish their significance by offering unrivaled skills.

What kind of initiatives are you taking for the development of childcare workers?
We firstly identify the personality of the individual childcare worker. After that, we assign tasks that they can make full use of their individual strengths to accumulate small successes. It is important for childcare workers to enhance their motivation from constant small successes, which will encourage them to be a one-of-a-kind childcare worker.

To improve the turnover rate among childcare workers, it is necessary for them to recognize that their job is “one-of-a-kind.”
That’s right. I definitely need to improve the turnover rate. In fact, working at my academy,  I recognize that childcare work is truly rewarding. However, there are many issues in the childcare industry: salary, benefits, the heavy workload due to a wide range of tasks such as childcare duties, planning and execution of events, administrative work, and communication with parents. We would like to solve those issues by collaborating with various people related to the industry.

What kinds of efforts are you making to enable childcare workers to continue at your workplace?
I think the key is teamwork. Our kindergarten offers not only regular childcare services, but also various curriculums including gymnastics, self-study (reading, writing, arithmetic, abacus, etc.), and music. Our staff members are required to handle multiple tasks; thus, it is necessary for them to communicate with each other to operate every single childcare program in a stable manner. To strengthen both vertical and horizontal relationships, I regularly have one-on-one meetings with staff members as week as regular meetings. Furthermore, I always try to communicate with the members by chatting during work and having meals or tea with them.

What do you expect as the future vision for childcare workers?
In the past, childcare work ranked first or second as the dream job of Japanese children. However, it has moved down to a lower place recently but still stays within the top 10. I want to help push it back to the top. If children see our staff members working cheerfully and energetically, the children will talk about the attitudes of our members at home. Listening to them, their parents will be relieved. We wish to create positive cycles in the childcare industry, so we will focus on innovations for childcare workers, the entire academy, and children, in that order. By continuing to do this, we can make the industry better in the future.