We spoke with Sakurai Preschool in Anjo, Aichi about what changed after introducing the Yuria Method.
One educator reflected: “It gave me an opportunity to return to what it really means to value each child, and to look again at my own practice.”
For younger children, the team began paying closer attention to everyday moments such as meals, toileting and sleep. For older children, the focus shifted away from organizing the year around events and toward asking what would make the many hours children spend at the preschool more meaningful and fulfilling.
The team also began listening more closely to children's ideas and changing the environment through discussion among educators. At the same time, they became more aware of how challenging—and important—it is for colleagues to align around a genuinely child-centered direction.
“Learning the Yuria Method helped me become more intentional about seeing each child carefully. The imagination and ideas children bring, and the way they continually move beyond adult assumptions, reminded me again of what makes this profession so rewarding.”
