Transitioning to School: A Note for Parents With nearly 50 years as an Early Childhood Educator—from Cape Town to Sydney, and now in Tokyo—I have been afforded a beautiful vantage point on the world of early learning. One of the matters I hold dearest is how best to support parents as they transition to preschool. Yes, I […]
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I’ve written about this before, but I cannot press the point hard enough: the pervasive use of screens is profoundly damaging to young children. My conviction is now powerfully affirmed by a decisive shift emerging from Denmark, where educators are turning away from the digital classroom. This isn’t a minor experiment; it’s a national priority. […]
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This past week, two of our staff members attended a workshop on Emotional Development in early childhood. The experience reaffirmed our established practices and strengthened our confidence in the care and education we provide at Ohana International School. We believe in grounding our approach in research and science. We are incredibly grateful for our skilled […]
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Who am I today? Who will I be tomorrow? In a single morning of dramatic play, I can be a dozen different characters—a pirate, a parent, a planet. How lucky I am, especially if I am a preschooler bouncing into school each day with an open heart, an open mind, and a spirit ready for […]
The post Who am I – the Beauty of Imaginative Play first appeared on todaywedream.org.

How do we measure what the best toys for children are? Must we consider cultural contexts or economic factors? Ultimately, what should guide our decision about what is truly best for a young child? Over the years, I have consistently found that a simple cardboard box is among the very best toys a child can […]
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One of the reasons why people send their children to International Preschools in Tokyo, is to learn English. Our language of instruction is English even though our school population includes German, French, Tagalog, Russian, Hebrew, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Swedish, Spanish, Ukranian, and Japanese. Our International Preschool actively supports non-English speaking preschoolers through an immersive, play-based […]
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