The YIK learning environment was designed with warmth and a gentle atmosphere in mind. The floors, wainscoting and furniture were custom built and made of Japanese Cypress (hinoki). The tables and chairs were all made to order and graded according to age and class. The wood is finished with a mixture of linseed oil and beeswax, both of which are environmentally friendly substances and not likely to cause allergies.
The toys are carefully selected and most are made from wood and cloth which add warmth to the classroom. Many of the toys have been imported from abroad to give the children a feel for things from other lands.
To meet the needs of active children, we have a jungle-gym, a sandbox and a large, open space in which to run and play on our roof-top playground. In the summer, water play on the roof with hoses, pools, sprinklers and watering cans is very popular. Also, being in the centre of the city gives us easy access to The Hiroshima Castle Park, Hanover Garden and the promenade in the precincts of the prefectural office. Teachers often take the children for a walk to explore and to commune with nature.
YMCA International Kindergarten : YIKの教室は、やさしさと暖かさを十分に感じられるように配慮されています。床や腰板、いすや机、家具にいたるまで、すべて国産のヒノキを使用し、塗料も亜麻仁油と蜜蝋の混合油という自然塗料ですのでアレルギーの心配もありません。
おもちゃは、木や布を使用したぬくもりが感じられるものや、英語圏の文化に触れることができるように輸入したものなど、本当に子どもたちに良いと思ったものを揃えています。
施設内には、屋上プレイグラウンドを設けており、いつでも外遊びができる環境にあります。子どもたちはみんな滑り台や砂場が大好き!ボール遊びや鬼ごっこ、夏は水遊びなど、広いグラウンドでのびのびと元気いっぱい楽しんでいます。
園内の廊下には、遊びの中で脳と身体(バランス感覚、巧緻性、集中力、空間認知の力、握力、腕力、脚力)を鍛えることができる“Monkey Bars(雲梯[うんてい])”と”Balance beam(平均台)”、教室内には登り棒があり、毎日の生活の中で、からだの機能を育んでいます。