Nihonmachi Little Friends Japanese bilingual and multicultural Childcare
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Frequently Asked Questions
Japanese Mon - Emblem


Teacher with Kids
  • What are the school hours and holiday schedule?
    The Preschools are open from 7:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. The After School Program has before school care from 7:30am to 9:00 am, and then reopens from 1:00 pm to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Preschools are open year-round and are closed on major holidays with a week off during the Winter holidays. The After School Program is closed during major school holidays as well as during the summer, two weeks for the Winter holidays and one week for Spring break. See sections describing both our Preschool and After School programs.
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  • When do you have openings?
    We usually have our greatest number of openings in late August, early September, when our pre-kindergarten children graduate and enter kindergarten. We do, however, sometimes have openings in late winter and spring when parents unexpectedly leave our programs, so it’s best to be placed on our waiting list so we can call you as soon as there is an opening. See more information about openings and deadlines.
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  • At what age can my child enroll?
    A child must be 2 1/2 years of age and toilet trained to begin preschool. See more information about requirements.
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  • Does my child have to be completely toilet trained?
    Yes. We do not allow the child to wear pull-ups either. The teacher will remind the child frequently to go to the bathroom, e.g. before they go outside, when they come in for snack, before lunch, after lunch, etc. See more information about requirements.
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  • When is the deadline to enroll?
    NLF has no enrollment deadlines and we accept applications year-round. We recommend that parents visit the program and submit their applications at least a year in advance of the time they would like their child to enroll. See more information about deadlines.
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  • Sensei and students enjoying a snack
  • How are Japanese bilingual and English learning groups different?
    In our preschool program, the English learning group is taught only in English and is usually recommended for children whose primary language is not Japanese or English. The Japanese bilingual group is taught mainly in Japanese with limited English translation as needed. Small learning groups are just a small portion of the day and all children do hear the Japanese language throughout the day, especially during music time. Learn more about our curriculum.

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  • What is the teacher-child ratio?
    Our ratio is eight children to one teacher at the most. Learn more about our teachers and staff.

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  • What are the qualifications of the staff?
    The majority of the staff have a Bachelor’s degree, and if the degree is not in the early childhood education field, they are attending classes to work towards obtaining 12 to 24 early childhood education units. All of our staff are have been certified for First Aid and CPR. We also have three to four professional staff development training workshops throughout the year. Learn more about our teachers and staff.

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  • What do I need to bring on the first day of preschool?
    Please bring an extra change of clothes– socks, underwear, t-shirt, sweatshirt, long pants and short pants for those extra hot days; child-sized toothbrush with a skinny handle; and child-sized blankets and pillow (if needed.) See a typical day in Preschool.
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  • What is your discipline policy?
    Girl Drawing with Markers
    All the children are reminded of the rules at school. A child is first warned regarding their inappropriate action or behavior and explained why. If the action or behavior continues, then they are placed in time-out to think about why they are sitting there. After a few minutes, the teacher will talk to the child regarding why they are sitting there, why they reacted that way, how the other child probably feels, how they would feel if that happened to them and what they can do the next time this happens again. Time-out is adjusted to the child’s age and developmental stage. If an aggressive behavior continues repeatedly, the parents will be notified and a parent teacher conference will be set up to see how both school and home can work toward modifying and/or eliminating the behavior, and brainstorm ways we can help the child. Learn more about our mental health services.
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  • My child is a allergic to peanuts. Do I need to bring a separate lunch?
    No. Our cooks are very accommodating and will make separate meals with substitutions and dishes without the ingredients a child is allergic to. The children all eat a very comparable meal and do not feel left out. Learn more about our lunch and snacks program.
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2031 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 922-8898
nlfchildcare@yahoo.com