Guidebook for Living in Korea Information PLUS

This is an educational and childcare institution operating under the Child Care Act for the childcare of infants and young children with authorization from the city mayor, county governor, or the head of a gu.

Childcare Centers care for pre-school children aged seven and under. However, if needed (such as for disability integration or after-school education), childcare can be provided up to age 12.

The child care center is basically operated for 12 hours during weekdays (7:30a.m.~7:30p.m.) and for 8 hours on Saturdays (7:30a.m.~3:30p.m.). However, by considering the main guardian’s working hours and after getting consent from the guardian beforehand, the operation of each child care center can be adjusted. (The operation of night-time extended daycare and holiday child care).

The operating hours of the child care center are classified into basic care (9 a.m.~4 p.m.) which is applied to all infants and preschool children and additional care (4 p.m.~7:30 p.m.) which is applied to infants and preschool children who need additional care. For extended care hours, additional teachers are assigned.

Each child care center has a basic operations policy or care philosophy. In particular, the operations policy, care philosophy and attitude of the director of a child care center, who is in charge of the center, can have a great influence on the center, so please check these aspects beforehand via the homepage of the center for a consultation with the director.

The standard childcare curriculum follows the goals and content of universal and common childcare provided at the national level for infants and young children aged zero to five in childcare centers. It consists of childcare curriculum for ages zero to one, two, and three to five (Nuri Curriculum). ※ What is the Nuri Curriculum for ages three to five?It is a common curriculum for childcare and education that guarantees high-quality and equal educational opportunities from the first starting line of life, regardless of whether the child attends a childcare center or kindergarten.

The ratio of teachers vs. infants and preschool children is the most basic environmental condition that is needed for a teacher to identify individual characteristics of children and to provide proper care. The current legal ratios of teachers vs. infants and preschool children notified by the government are as follows:

Infants and preschool children who engage in exploration actively due to high curiosity are likely to be exposed to safety hazard accidents and have low resistance to diseases, so the safety and cleanliness of the indoor and outdoor facilities of a child care center should be examined thoroughly.

Daily schedule must be operated to be suitable for the daily life patterns of children, so the schedule should allow for enough play time, proper rest, napping, and indoor activities according to the development of infants and preschool children.

During infancy and preschool childhood, children go through rapid growth, so it should be checked whether a child care center provides balanced meals and snack for the nourishment needed for growth of children and major food ingredient suppliers and country of origin should be checked as well.

Even if a child care center is excellent, if it is located far from home, commuting the child care center can be too hard for children, so it is important to choose a child care center close to home.

Guardians who want to use a child care center can apply for admission online without time and place constraints.

The government provides Child care center subsidy in the form of a voucher. Accordingly, if you decided to send your child to a child care center, you must apply for the issuance of Citizen Happiness Card.

Orientation for newly admitted children provides information on the current condition and operations policy, childcare programs and each class-related operations policy of a child care center. It is a great opportunity to get detailed information, so we strongly recommend attending the orientation, where you will get a guideline on admission documents. Most of the documents are required by the government, so you must submit them at a specified time by preparing them beforehand.

Preparation materials for child care center may vary by child care center. In general, the materials are needed for your child’s life at a child care center. They include a comforter for naps, a pillow, toothbrush, toothpaste, wet tissues, and others. For infants/ toddlers, milk powder, milk bottle and a gauze towel can be included as personal supplies.

Parents who send their child to a child care center for the first time may feel anxious and a sense of guilt for their child(ren), rather than positive expectations. However, this kind of parents’ mindset can have a negative influence on their child’s adaptation, so they need to visit their child care center with their child and talk with the teacher or have a regular life routine according to the child care center’s schedule to be mentally prepared. In the case of dual-career families, they may need to participate in the adaptation period by adjusting their vacation after checking the child care center’s adaptation period or by looking for grandparents who will provide a help.

Child care center adaptation program allows children to acclimate/ adjust to a child care center’s schedule gradually over time when they are first admitted to a child care center to overcome anxiety about an unfamiliar environment and be able to adapt to a new environment. The adaptation program extends time, starting from ‘a participation into a morning schedule’ with parents and to ‘lunch time’, ‘nap time’ and participation in an afternoon schedule.’ Separation from parents will begin for 5~10 minutes and will be extended gradually. This process will be operated systematically over a week at least at the discretion of the parents and teachers, and will be operated flexibly according to the environment of a child care center, as well as the individual characteristics of infants and preschool children and the environment of each family.

The experience of being left alone at an unfamiliar child care center after being separated from parents can be very hard on a child, and children may express their anxiety in various ways. Accordingly, parents should embrace their children’s anxious mind and help them with an appropriate method.