MET-EIS Hoikuen

Daily Routine & Curriculum

One shared daily rhythm. Flexible program choices. A caring environment for heart, body, independence, and language. MET-EIS Hoikuen combines Japanese childcare values with natural English immersion, supporting children through daily life, relationships, play, exploration, routines, and meaningful interaction with their environment. Through movement, creativity, sensory experiences, seasonal activities, and age-appropriate discovery, children are encouraged to explore with curiosity, build independence, develop positive relationships, communicate with confidence, and grow through meaningful everyday experiences.

One Shared Hoikuen Daily Routine

All MET-EIS Hoikuen programs follow one master clock-time routine. When two or more programs overlap, children do the same activity at the same time. The routine does not restart when a child arrives for a different program.

For example, children entering the Afternoon Hoikuen Program at 13:00 are received quietly and join the Nap / Quiet Rest already in progress. From 13:40 onward, Afternoon, Extended Morning, and Full-Day children continue the same schedule together.

Choose the Childcare Hours That Fit Your Family

Different enrollment hours, one consistent childcare routine.

Morning Schedule

9:00–14:00

5 hours · Approx. 18 months–6 years

Follows the shared Hoikuen routine from arrival through the 13:40–14:00 wake-up and transition period.

AfternoonSchedule

13:00–17:00

4 hours · Approx. 18 months–6 years

Arrives quietly at 13:00 and joins the Nap / Quiet Rest already in progress, then follows the shared routine until 17:00.

Extended Morning

9:00–15:00

6 hours · Approx. 18 months–6 years

Follows the same shared routine as Morning and Full-Day children through the 14:30–15:00 Free Play period.

Full-Day Childcare

9:00–17:00

8 hours · Approx. 18 months–6 years

Uses the complete shared Hoikuen routine from 9:00 arrival through 17:00 pick-up.

Program ages and service arrangements should be read together with the current enrollment agreement and availability.

Unified Daily Schedule

The activity below is the shared Hoikuen activity at each clock time.

9:00–9:30

Arrival, Health Check, and Free Play

Calm transition, observation, and settling

9:30–10:00

Morning Gathering

Greetings, songs, attendance, calendar, weather, and conversation

10:00–10:40

Main Childcare Activity

English immersion, creative activities, sensory experiences, seasonal learning, phonics exposure, hands-on play, and exploration through everyday experiences.

10:40–11:10

Outdoor Play or Physical Activity

Gross motor development, coordination, health, and social interaction

11:10–11:25

Toileting, Handwashing, and Lunch Preparation

Hygiene, independence, and daily-life skills

11:25–12:00

Lunch

Nutrition, manners, communication, and independent eating

12:00–12:30

Clean-Up, Story Time, and Quiet Transition

Calm preparation for rest

12:30–13:40

Nap or Quiet Rest

Physical recovery and emotional regulation; Afternoon Hoikuen children arriving at 13:00 join this activity quietly

13:40–14:00

Wake-Up, Toileting, and Transition

Gentle wake-up and preparation for departures or afternoon continuation

14:00–14:30

Calm Table Activities / Arrival-Departure Transition

Picture books, puzzles, coloring, table toys, and smooth handover

14:30–15:00

Free Play

Emotional reset, social interaction, and mixed-age play

15:00–15:30

Snack Time

Energy recovery, manners, and social communication

15:30–16:00

Afternoon Group Activity

Songs, storytelling, seasonal activities, simple English immersion, or group games

16:00–16:30

Creative or Physical Play

Crafts, music, movement, role-play, sensory play, or outdoor activity

16:30–17:00

Free Play, Quiet Activities, and Pick-Up

Relaxed play and gradual dismissal

17:00 - 19:30

Extended Childcare & Pick-Up

Optional care after regular hours with quiet play and gradual pick-up.

Daily flexibility: Teachers may make reasonable adjustments for children’s health, weather, developmental needs, special events, safety, and the needs of the group while maintaining the overall daily rhythm.

13:00 Afternoon Arrival

午後保育 / Gogo Hoiku

Children joining the 13:00–17:00 program enter the routine gently and quietly.

How the Transition Works

At 13:00, the group is already in Nap or Quiet Rest. Afternoon-program children do not begin a separate activity. They are welcomed quietly, settle into the current rest period, and then join the same wake-up, table activity, free play, snack, group activity, creative/physical play, and pick-up rhythm as the other children.

Curriculum Within the Daily Routine

The 10:00–10:40 Main Childcare Activity changes according to the day, theme, season, children’s interests, and developmental needs. The curriculum is also reinforced throughout free play, group time, outdoor activity, meals, stories, and everyday care routines.

Independent & Hands-On Learning

Practical-life experiences that support concentration, independence, organization, fine-motor development, and child-led exploration through carefully prepared, age-appropriate activities.

English Immersion

English is naturally woven into greetings, songs, stories, play, routines, movement, and teacher-child communication throughout the day.

Creative Arts & Crafts

Drawing, painting, making, seasonal crafts, music, movement, dramatic play, and open-ended creative expression.

Sensory Learning

Hands-on exploration using texture, sound, movement, shape, color, materials, nature, and age-appropriate sensory experiences.

Seasonal Learning

Activities connected to Japan’s seasons, weather, nature, celebrations, food, songs, stories, and the children’s immediate environment.

Phonics Exposure

Playful exposure to English sounds, rhythm, rhyme, songs, picture books, and sound awareness without turning early childhood into formal test-based study.

Curiosity & Discovery

Simple science, building, sorting, patterns, counting, observation, problem-solving, cause-and-effect, and creative investigation through play.

Life Skills & Independence

Handwashing, toileting support, lunch routines, tidying, caring for belongings, choosing activities, and gradually doing more for oneself.

English Is Part of the Day

English immersion at MET-EIS is integrated into real childcare experiences rather than limited to one isolated lesson period.

Japanese Language Support

Japanese is used naturally when needed for emotional security, clear understanding, daily routines, social development, and connection to Japanese culture, while English remains part of the children’s everyday environment.

How English Is Used Throughout the Day

Morning Gathering: greetings, songs, calendar, weather, and conversation.

Main Activity: useful English connected to Hands-On inspired work, crafts, sensory play, seasonal themes, phonics exposure, and discoveries.

Movement & Play: action language, requests, sharing, turn-taking, naming, describing, and simple social communication.

Stories & Songs: rhythm, repetition, comprehension, vocabulary, imagination, and sound awareness.

Daily Care: familiar language during handwashing, lunch, clean-up, toileting, transitions, snack, and pick-up.

What the Daily Routine Supports

Every part of the day has a developmental purpose—not only the planned activity period.

Secure Relationships

Children are welcomed calmly, observed carefully, and supported through predictable routines and responsive teacher interaction.

Healthy Body

Outdoor play, movement, rest, nutrition, hygiene, and physical coordination are built into the daily rhythm.

Communication

Children develop listening, expression, social language, English familiarity, and confidence through meaningful everyday interaction.

Independence

Daily routines give repeated opportunities to choose, help, tidy, eat, wash, prepare, and care for personal belongings.

Social Development

Mixed-age play, group activities, meals, transitions, and shared routines support cooperation, turn-taking, empathy, and belonging.

Curiosity & Creativity

Montessori-inspired work, sensory play, art, STEAM, stories, nature, and seasonal activities encourage discovery and imagination.

One Group, One Rhythm, Individual Care

Whether a child attends Morning, Afternoon, Extended Morning, or Full Day, the shared clock-time routine helps children experience predictability, belonging, smooth transitions, and consistent care.

For further inquiry regarding schedules and curriculum, please contact MET-EIS Hoikuen.