An Exploratory Study on the Characteristics of Childcare Facilities Certified as “Shinshu-type Authorization System of Early Childhood Education and Care in Nature” Using Quantitative Text Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gather recommendations for the future advancement of nature-based childcare by analyzing the characteristics of certified childcare facilities in Nagano Prefecture. In 2015, Nagano Prefecture established the Shinshu-type Authorization System of Early Childhood Education and Care in Nature, making it a leading municipality in promoting nature-based childcare. A quantitative text analysis was conducted on text data posted by 226 of the 241 childcare facilities listed on the Nagano Prefecture Nature-Based Childcare Portal site under the section titled 'Characteristics of our facilities.' The results of the quantitative text analysis suggest that certified childcare facilities make use of the natural environment and local resources, while also developing a wide range of comprehensive activities with an emphasis on connections. These findings offer valuable insights into the expansion of nature-based childcare in Japan. It is recommended that the accreditation/certification system be tailored to the specific conditions of each region, functioning as an ecosystem.