Naruko Preschool

We were invited to stay with our toddler for a day in the Kodomoen so we could have a good peek into the environment and understand the people at the preschool. Sensei are very well organised and our child got a lot of individual attention and care especially from the teacher who was assigned to take care of her only. We were about to spend 10 minutes in the morning and also in the afternoon to get to know how things were during the day. We were able to also interact a bit with the other children and parents. They were all very welcoming. Our teacher ChiChi she made a beautiful notebook with pictures, captions and comments each day. We were also given Line contact so we could exchange the essentials.

I truly appreciated the Japan Preschool Exchange program and the warm hospitality we received. One memorable moment was how kindly everyone responded to my child's needs, which helped me feel reassured throughout the stay. Grateful for this meaningful opportunity.

I'd also like to share a few suggestions on emergency contact procedures and crisis management, which I hope may be helpful for future improvement.

1. Emergency Contact Information
Although an emergency contact was already provided through the exchange program, the kindergarten still asked for it separately during an incident. It may help to keep a complete copy of the child's emergency information on file in advance, to avoid delay or confusion.

2. Communication Delay During a Fever Incident
During a suspected fever incident, there was about a 1-hour delay before I received the information — by which time we had already resolved it ourselves. The school didn't seem to know it had been handled, causing unnecessary confusion.

3. Suggestion: A Clear Crisis Protocol
I'd respectfully suggest the kindergarten create a clear, written emergency protocol, especially since the program encourages outdoor activities (forests, water, sand, snow). Ideally, this should state: the school will first call the parent directly, while also messaging the exchange WhatsApp group as backup — ensuring parents are reached by phone, with a written record in case a call is missed. It would also help to clarify fever notification criteria (medically, 38.0°C/100.4°F+ for a 2-year-old; below that is generally low-grade/borderline).

4. My Feelings About the Incident
I appreciate the teacher's attentiveness, but felt anxious over a possible misjudgment, which caused unnecessary alarm — even hotel staff suggested I take my child away and mentioned hospital care, adding stress. I understand policies vary, but I hope fever notification could follow a consistent standard like 38°C rather than 36–37°C. This matters especially for families within walking distance who don't have a car and may not be nearby.

5. Suggestion: Contact Guidance in the Handbook
It would help if the handbook clearly asked parents to prepare a Japan-compatible phone for calls. If teachers aren't comfortable in English, the handbook could suggest: (1) prepare a Japan-callable number; (2) if not possible, provide backup contacts (email, WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat) based on staff preference.

6. A Respectful Request
I'd kindly ask that crisis management be taken seriously with a clear written procedure, especially for children aged 2–6. I'm not overly worried about care quality — I trust the teachers and value their good reviews — but not every kindergarten has the same staff ratio, so fast, clear communication matters. Ideally, there should never be a gap where an issue is resolved on-site but the school doesn't yet know.

Thank you for your attention and continued efforts in supporting children's safety and communication.

Our two kids enjoyed 1 week at Naruko Kodomoen, a new preschool in an onsen town in Miyagi. The school building was beautiful, the teachers were very warm and caring, and the children were all very pleasant and friendly. The teacher wrote daily reports so we knew how the kids were doing. We had no problem with communication even though we spoke very little Japanese. It was the first time our kids experienced snow and they had a great time sledding and throwing snowballs with other kids. As parents we enjoyed the onsen town and the excellent skiing nearby when the kids were in school. It was a wonderful experience for our whole family.

Even though it’s very costly, we are glad that our children got to play with snow, and our son experienced horse-back riding for the first time! The school is truly beautiful and smells so nice of wood that it’s just a true pleasure to send our children there.