Abstract
This study revealed the significance of redefining “mimamoru” (watching over) as an attitude that empathically supports children rather than as a behavior for promoting the development of children. We introduced the innovative concept of “mimanoru attitude” (caring attitude) on the basis of a literature review conducted according to the Course of Study for Kindergarten. We identified three pivotal characteristics of “mimamoru attitude”: natural empathy, relationship with joint-attention, and “mimamoru” as an attitude. Furthermore, analysis of observational data obtained from a 5-year-old kindergarten class suggested that the concept of “mimamoru attitude” provides a fresh and insightful approach to better understanding kindergarten education practices.
