Impact of Nature-Based Child Care Training on Child Care Workers

Focusing on Training Programs Organized by Local Governments

Abstract

This scientific research examines the impact of nature-based childcare training programs, particularly those implemented by local governments, in four Japanese prefectures: Tottori, Nagano, Hiroshima, and Shiga, which had implemented nature-based childcare accreditation/certification systems by 2021. The study focused on childcare workers employed at preschool facilities accredited under these systems in the aforementioned prefectures, and successfully collected responses from 1,374 individuals. An important aspect of this research was the analysis of free-text responses from participants in these government-run training programs, using quantitative text analysis methods. The findings revealed that terms such as “children,” “self,” and “knowledge” encapsulate a core set of values and perceptions that are integral to nature-based child care. Furthermore, it was found that the training programs could significantly contribute to enhancing the professional skills and knowledge of child care workers, potentially leading to positive changes in their value systems and cognitive approaches. The research also suggested significant differences in perceptions based on regional specificities and the type of training undertaken. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted impacts of nature-based childcare training, and offers critical insights for the design and promotion of future training programs in this field.