• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2020

Play areas of childcare facility capable of stimulating the interests of children is extremely important. However, Childcare facility play areas in Korea are often placed in 'leftover' spaces due to institutional inadequacies. As a result, unlike the diverse play areas found in other countries, play areas in Korea have a standard appearance. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the specific causes of the physical differences in the childcare facility play areas of Korea and other countries. This study compared regulations, handbooks and guidelines and examined case studies of childcare facility play areas outside of Korea. Five institutional-level differences related to play areas between countries were identified as a result of this analysis. Suggestions for improvement at the institutional-level were proposed to each of the identified categories. This study focuses on the play areas of childcare facility and suggests directions for the improvement of play areas that are both institutionally and physically realistic.

• Korean Journal of Comparative Education
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.285-310
• /
• 2017

This study reviews recent changes in parenting support policy in Japan, and examines the roles and functions of day-nursery as the base for parenting support in the local community. The purpose of this study is to provide implications for the direction of the parenting support policy and child-care facilities for the local communities in South Korea. The analysis concentrates on the official national reports such as the Declining Birthrate White Paper and Japan's National Guidelines for Care and Education at Day Nursery by the Japanese Cabinet Office. The study finds that the Japanese government has introduced comprehensive medium and long-term policies for all the members of the community with recognizing the changes in the domestic and foreign child-rearing environments and social needs. These policies have also helped to improve the social awareness of parenting. The role of the day-care center has been raised as a significant part of the support for child-rearing in the local community due to the revision of the Child Welfare Act for nursery school teachers in 2001 and the official announcement of Japan's National Guidelines for Care and Education at Day Nursery in 2008. The study also concludes that the social responsibility of the nursery center has been strengthened by being utilized as a public resource for the community. From the findings, we can elicit the conclusions and implications that the roles and functions of child care centers as a significant base for parenting support in the local communities need to be considered. We also listen to the voices of stakeholders such as parents and staff of child care centers. Last but not least, we would understand the social role and importance of bringing up children by cooperation of the community members, and promote the role of child care centers as a central place providing and communicating information on child-rearing in the local communities.